2011-12 Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL)

34-21-5, Third in the Atlantic Division, Fifth in the Eastern Conference

MILESTONE WATCH

• Evgeni Malkin is is 10 points away from 500.

• Sidney Crosby is 19 points short of moving to fifth on team’s all-time scoring list.

• Marc-Andre Fleury is one shutout away from leading the team in all-time  shutouts and 12 wins from replacing Barrasso at the top of the list for team wins.

•  The Penguins are 11 wins short of 1,500 regular season victories for the franchise.

SEASON HIGHLIGHTS

October 6 - Evgeni Malkin scored the decisive goal in the shootout and Matt Cooke scored twice coming off his season-ending suspension. The powerplay went two-for-two and Kris Letang had two points in his 100th NHL game.

October 7 – Jordan Staal recorded his 200th point in the NHL with an assist on a goal against the Calgary Flames.

October 11 – Pascal Dupuis scored his 50th goal with Pittsburgh.

October 13 – Chris Kunitz’ assist against the Capitals was his 100th point with the team.

October 20- Arron Asham played in his 700th NHL game.

October 22 – Steve Sullivan played in his 900th career game. Jordan Staal scored twice to bring his career goal total to 100.

October 25 – Dan Bylsma coached his 200th game in the NHL and Marc-Andre Fleury made 33 saves against the New York Islanders for his 20th career shutout.

November 5 - Marc-Andre Fleury stopped the Los Angeles Kings’ Mike Richards on a penalty shot.  Fleury has made nine saves on 11 career penalty shots.

November 11 – Matt Cooke beat Dallas Stars Kari Lehtonen on a penalty shot.

November 15 –  Penguins forward James Neal became the first NHL player to score at least one goal in each of his team’s first eight home games when he scored against the Colorado Avalanche.

November 21 – Sidney Crosby had two goals and two assists in his first game back from a 320-day absence.  Marc-Andre Fleury made 29 saves for  his second shutout of the season and 21st of his career.

November 23 - The Penguins celebrated the team’s 25 millionth paying customer (including playoffs). Zbynek Michalek played in his 500th NHL game.

November 25 – Paul Martin played in his 500th NHL game.  A new high attendance mark was set at the CONSOL Energy Center as a standing-room-only  crowd of  18,610 saw the Pens and the Ottawa Senators.

Novemeber 29 – Evgeni Malkin moved to tenth on team’s all-time scoring list with a goal against the New York Rangers.

December 3 –  Brent Johnson defeated the Carolina Hurricanes in his 300th NHL game.

December 17 – Simon Despres scored his first NHL goal; Evgeni Malkin scored his seventh NHL hat trick; Marc-Andre-Fleury earned his 200th win; Brooks Orpik picked up his 100th point in the NHL ; Pascal Dupuis played in his 700th NHL game and notched his 300th point; Carl Sneep recorded his first point.

December 23 – Steve Sullivan recorded his 700th point in the NHL with an assist on Jordan Staal’s goal against Winnipeg.

December 27 – With a goal and assist, Jordan Staal was the number one star of the game – his 400th NHL appearance.

January 13 – Coach Dan Bylsma moved to second place on team’s all-time coaching wins list with 136. Eddie Johnston is first with 232 wins.

January 15 – Evgeni Malkin had five points and scored a natural hat trick in the third period, his eighth hat trick with the Pens. Malkin, with 51 points, finished the game one point behind Vancouver Canucks Henrik Sedin in the scoring race.

Jamuary 24 – James Neal scored his 100th NHL goal.

February 11 – Richard Park scored his 100th NHL goal.

February 18 – Matt Cook’s short-handed goal against the Flyers was the first three-on-five shorthanded goal since Mario Lemieux pulled the feat against the Los Angeles Kings on February 13, 1988.

February 21 – Marc-Andre Fleury made 27 saves for his 22nd shutout to  tie Tom Barrasso in all-time shutouts. Pittsburgh had goals from Evgeni Malkin and Steve Sullivan.   It was the first time the Penguins defeated the Rangers at the CONSOL Energy Center.