Mess nails 600thArchived from 1998-99 season. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mark Messier became only the 10th player in the NHL history to score 600 goals when he scored Friday as the Vancouver Canucks beat the Florida Panthers, 5-0.
Messier, who has six Stanley Cup rings, joined former Edmonton linemates Wayne Gretzky and Jari Kurri in the exclusive 600-club. Gretzky, now a New York Ranger, leads the pack with 886. Kurri retired after last season with 601. "I've never been focused on individual goals and milestones, but this one, only nine players have done it," Messier said before the game. "It gives merit to longevity. To do something like this, it takes playing on some great teams with some great players." Vancouver is on a five-game road trip and has won back-to-back games for the first time this season. "Individual success comes from winning as a team. That's the bottom line," Messier said. "I always put the team ahead of any individual goals, I didn't want the guys to think I was pressing for 600. Our rallying cry this year is to play a solid team game." |
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