Feb 24, 2022; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) congratulates center Evgeni Malkin (71) on his goal against the New Jersey Devils during the second period at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
NHL: New Jersey Devils at Pittsburgh Penguins
Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang will make history for the Pittsburgh Penguins tonight as they start the 2022 NHL season, their 17th season as teammates. This feat has only happened once before for “Big Four” teams (NHL, MLB, NFL, NBA) when the New York Yankees’ Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada, and Mariano Rivera achieved the feat from 1995 to 2011.
The streak for the Pens started in 2006 when Letang made his debut for the team after being drafted in the third round of the 2005 NHL Draft. Evgeni Malkin played his first NHL game in 2006 as well, after a rehab process following a collision behind the net during an exhibition game after his draft in 2004. Malkin scored his first goal in that first game passed New Jersey’s Martin Brodeur. Sidney Crosby made his NHL debut a year earlier in 2005 against the New Jersey Devils.
The rest has been history as the Pittsburgh trio have played over 3,000 games and contributed to over 3,200 points in the NHL. Crosby, Malkin, and Letang have won 103 playoff games and won three Stanley Cups together in 2009, 2016, and 2017.
As the trio make history this evening as only the second trio to achieve the feat of 17 seasons together, this is only the beginning. While Crosby had previously signed a 12-year contract that would keep him in Pittsburgh until 2025, Malkin and Letang both signed long-term contracts in July 2022 that extended their stay in the Steel City by four and six years, respectively.
The Pittsburgh Penguins start the NHL season at home, welcoming the Arizona Coyotes to PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh. The Penguins hope to bounce back from a disappointing loss in the first round of the playoffs last year to the New York Rangers after leading 3 games to 1. The Coyotes look to improve from their 25-50-7 record in 2021-22. Pittsburgh are favorites to win their home and season opener.
