NHL teams
Joe McDonald, ESPN Staff Writer 7y

Reaching 500 goals not the only story for Marian Hossa

NHL, Chicago Blackhawks, Florida Panthers, Tampa Bay Lightning, Montreal Canadiens

What happened last night that you need to know about? Joe McDonald gives us his take on the biggest and best performances. This is where we say, "Morning, Joe."

Hossa overcomes adversity: Fans of the Chicago Blackhawks were finally treated to a major milestone for veteran forward Marian Hossa, who Tuesday night became the 44th player to score 500 goals. Hossa, 37, is one of four active players to reach 500, joining the Florida Panthers' Jaromir Jagr (749), the Colorado Avalanche's Jarome Iginla (612) and the Washington Capitals' Alex Ovechkin (526). Hossa's career accomplishments are more than just numbers and Stanley Cups. If he hadn't been able to overcome a massive low point early in his career, he might not have attained his future Hall of Fame success. On March 11, 2000, Hossa was a 21-year-old prospect for the Ottawa Senators when he tried to one-time a loose puck against the Toronto Maple Leafs. He missed and on his follow-through, the blade of his stick struck Leafs defenseman Bryan Berard in the right eye. The devastating injury nearly cost Berard his career, and the former No. 1 overall pick was never the same. Hossa struggled after that incident. At the time of Berard's injury, Hossa led the Senators with 27 goals, including 16 points in his previous 16 games. But after the incident, in the last 14 games of the season Hossa scored just two goals. The horrific accident clearly affected Hossa. The guilt could have derailed his career, but he was able to overcome it to become an elite player, and he remains a quality person.

We want more Florida: After being dormant for a while, the Battle of the Sunshine State was renewed last season, and it appears to be back in full force. On Tuesday, the Tampa Bay Lightning earned a 4-3 shootout victory over the Panthers at Amalie Arena in Tampa. The highly entertaining game ended dramatically and could indicate an interesting season series. Lightning captain Steven Stamkos tied the game with 5.5 seconds remaining in regulation before rookie forward Brayden Point scored in the shootout en route to victory. Tampa begins 3-0-0 for the fifth time in franchise history and for the second consecutive season. If the hockey gods were kind, they would create a postseason matchup between the Lightning and Panthers. Both teams should finish in the top echelon of the Atlantic Division, but a playoff series would be epic, especially with how these teams are currently built. A series like that would be outstanding for the fans and great for hockey. Plus, the travel would be easy.

Radulov makes a good impression: Most fans in Montreal will be talking about Al Montoya's 36-save shutout performance to lead the Canadiens to a 4-0 win over the defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh PenguinsĀ on Tuesday night at Bell Centre. It was a strong performance from the backup goalie, who made his third consecutive start because No. 1 Carey Price remains sidelined with the flu. Lost in the victory for Montreal was the performance of forward Alexander Radulov. Before fans get excited about his offseason addition, let's see how this situation plays out for the Canadiens. The 30-year-old, who signed a one-year deal worth $5.75 million, registered a goal, six minutes in penalties and three shots on Tuesday. It was no doubt an interesting move when Radulov left the KHL to sign with the Canadiens. The former Nashville Predator played only three seasons (two different stints) in the NHL before heading back to the KHL. He earned a bad reputation but appears to have matured and is headed toward being a low-risk, high-reward venture for Montreal.

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