Robitaille scores 500th

Archived from 1998-99 season.

Luc Robitaille became only the 27th player in NHL history to score 500 goals. Robitaille had two goals as the Los Angeles Kings extended their winning streak to five games by beating the Buffalo Sabres 4-2.

NHL players with 500 or more goals
1.x-Wayne Gretzky, Edm-Los-Stl-Nyr	891
2.Gordie Howe, Det-Har	801
3.Marcel Dionne, Det-Los-Nyr	731
4.Phil Esposito, Chi-Bos-Nyr	717
5.Mike Gartner, Was-Min-Nyr-Tor-Pho	708
6.Mario Lemieux, Pit	613
7.Bobby Hull, Chi-Win-Har	610
8.x-Mark Messier, Edm-Nyr-Van	608
9.Dino Ciccarelli, Min-Was-Det-Tam-Fla	607
10.Jari Kurri, Edm-Los-Nyr-Ana-Col	601
11.x-Steve Yzerman, Det	579
12.Mike Bossy, Nyi	573
13.x-Brett Hull, Cgy-Stl-Dal	568
14.Guy Lafleur, Mon-Nyr-Que	560
15.John Bucyk, Det-Bos	556
16.Michel Goulet, Que-Chi	548
17.Maurice Richard, Mon	544
18.Stan Mikita, Chi	541
19.Frank Mahovlich, Det-Tor-Mon	533
20.x-Dave Andreychuk, Buf-Tor-Njd	528
21.Bryan Trottier, Nyi-Pit	524
22.Dale Hawerchuk, Win-Buf-Stl-Phi	518
23.Gil Perreault, Buf	512
24.Jean Beliveau, Mon	507
25.Joe Mullen, Stl-Cgy-Pit-Bos-Pit	502
26.x-Luc Robitaille, Los-Pit-Nyr-Los	500
tie.Lanny McDonald, Tor-Col-Cgy	500
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"It doesn't mean anything if I stop there," Robitaille said. "I had a dream just to make the NHL. I never thought I'd get here. I love to play this game. I feel I'm lucky to be in the NHL every day and I'll never take it for granted."

Robitaille took a pass from Pavel Rosa on the left side of the net and flipped the puck in to beat Buffalo goalie Dwayne Roloson, who was sprawled on his stomach, for number 500.

I knew I would reach 500 sometime," Robitaille said. "It's been fun. I know that lately I've been a little busier, but I think maybe the team has gotten more attention too."

The goal put Robitaille with Wayne Gretzky, Marcel Dionne and Jari Kurri as players who scored their 500th goal with the Kings.

"A lot of people don't give him enough credit for how much he's worked on his skating. That was his knock," said Kings coach Larry Robinson. "You don't get 500 goals from being lucky."

The game stopped momentarily as the rest of the Kings hugged their assistant captain, who's in his 13th NHL season and 10th with the Kings. Fans held up signs boasting of Robitaille's accomplishment, including one that read "Luc 500. We love you."

"You always like to see history made, but you don't like to be the ones watching it on the other team," said Buffalo's Michael Peca. "But hats off to Luc. He's had a great career."

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