WATCH: Steven Stamkos 500th goal celebrated by Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby on video message prior to game against Wild

<strong>WATCH: Steven Stamkos 500th goal celebrated by Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby on video message prior to game against Wild</strong>

Sidney Crosby, Steven Stamkos. Alex Ovechkin [Image Credit: NY Post/NHL/RMNB

Prior to Tuesday’s game against Minnesota Wild, Tampa Bay Lightning captain Steven Stamkos was honored by active NHL players, Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby. They welcomed their new and third active joinee Stamkos into the 500th NHL goal club. 

He’s the 47th NHL player to do so and 3rd active in the league. Following Crosby and Ovechkin’s celebratory message, the captain scored off the Wild leading the team to a 4-2 win against the Lightning at Amalie Arena. Nikita Kucherov’s goal sealed the team’s victory with only 17 seconds left in the game.

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Apart from Crosby and Ovechkin’s message, the home crowd celebrated and screamed his name, honoring the 32-year-old. He received plenty of gifts some of them being, a golf trip from his teammates, a gold from Jeff Vinik (owner), and a pair of pucks for his sons. 

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Related: WATCH: Steven Stamkos joins Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby as 3rd active to score 500 goals, NHL Twitter reacts

Steven Stamkos celebrates his 500th NHL goal

Steven Stamkos [Image Credit: NBC Sports]
Steven Stamkos [Image Credit: NBC Sports]

Lightning’s win against the Wild was a much-needed one for the team, especially after their train of losses in the past games.  Team coach Jon Cooper said, “That’s why Stammer’s Stammer”. 

“It was a big play for us, obviously, in this game, but Stammer kind of has that type of timing. (Tuesday), he gets honored and he gets the game-winning goal. That’s just Stammer’s style. It was awesome.”

Steven Stamkos said of the congratulatory video message, “It’s great”. “It’s becoming pretty expensive for the guys this year with all the gifts. Like for the 1,000th (point), it’s great to be at home and celebrate that with my family and my teammates and coaching staff and the entire staff and the fans.” 

“They were great again (Tuesday). It’s one of those moments where you allow yourself to sit back a little bit and enjoy the video and some of the fresh-faced goals and the teammates who made those plays.”

Stamkos’ hat trick against the Vancouver Canucks will be a golden moment to remember, as the captain said, “That’s a game that you’re gonna remember for forever, so to do that and have that story to tell for years to come was pretty special”.

It was his moment to shine, but Stamkos didn’t forget to name his teammates, as he stated that without them his 500th goal wouldn’t have been possible. He thanked every one of his teammates in the locker room as well as during interviews.

According to Terrace Standard, Canucks defenceman Luke Schenn said of Stamkos, “He’s first class, a first-ballot Hall of Famer, for sure. He scores goals”. “He’s a pretty underrated playmaker, too.”

“I think everyone looks out for his goal-scoring ability but he’s always over a point a game. And continually he gets better with age. He’s been a great player there for a long time and a great leader. So heck of a career. He’s a good buddy of mine and I’m happy for him.”

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