Marchand goes down in history

On Thursday he hit 1,000 career NHL points as a member of the Florida Panthers in their 6-3 win over the Washington Capitals. The milestone came with an assist on a late empty-net goal by Eetu Luostarinen with 1:30 left in the third period.

Marchand actually logged two assists that night. His first helper came earlier on a power-play goal by Seth Jones, bringing him to 999 career points, before the final assist pushed him over the mark.

The milestone is historic: Marchand became the 102nd player in NHL history to reach 1,000 career points. At age 37, with 435 goals and 565 assists in his tally, he's now the first player to reach 1,000 points wearing Panthers colours.
Marchand's longevity still pays off.

He also became the eighth active player to hit the 1,000-point plateau, a reminder of how rare that kind of career staying power has become in today's faster, younger league.

Fans know Marchand for his scoring touch and grit, and this milestone underscores both. He's played well over 1,100 NHL games and still brings energy, playmaking and veteran leadership to Florida's attack.

The Panthers have leaned heavily on that blend as they pursue more postseason success. He didn't just notch a milestone, he reaffirmed his value to Florida. If he keeps producing at this level, he could still climb higher in franchise records and among active NHL point-leaders.