Los Angeles Kings: 3 Players Hit Milestones

The Los Angeles Kings had a very special week, with three players hitting huge career milestones.

Many teams will have cause to celebrate an honorable achievement of a player during the course of a season. To say the odds of a team having three players reach major milestones in one week are long would be a tremendous understatement. In just under a week, the Los Angeles Kings had two players reach the 1,000 game mark while another netted his 100th goal and 200th point.

The week is just one highlight of what has been an amazing turnaround season for the Kings. After failing to make the postseason in two of the past three seasons changes were made, bringing in a new GM and Coach. So far, those changes are paying off royally for the Pacific Division leaders.

Gaborik Hits 1,000 In Madison Square Garden

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Marian Gaborik started the memorable week off by playing in his 1,000th game at Madison Square Garden, where he played three and half seasons in a Ranger’s jersey. He has taken a long and challenging road to 1,000 games.

Battling through numerous injuries, it took Gaborik 17 years to reach 1,000. When he did arrive he did so in grand symmetric style – 400 goals and 400 assists. Ironically, Gaborik shattered the perfect symmetry that very night when he scored his 401st career goal.

Toffoli hits 100 goals and 200 points

Two days later, in Philadelphia, the symmetry celebration continued as Tyler Toffoli sniped the game-winning goal, the 100th of his young career. Remarkably enough, like Gaborik, he too had the same number of assists to place his career point total at 200.

Fast forward a few days to when the Kings returned home from a four-game road trip. The homestand began with a hometeam celebration of Gaborik’s achievement, complete with tributes, gifts, and an appreciative crowd.

Former Captain Celebrates 1,000 In Grand Style

On that very same night Dustin Brown played his 1,000th game. Brown, the Kings 1st Round draft pick in 2003, former Captain and the first King to hoist two Stanley Cups, reached the 1,000 game plateau in less than 14 seasons (missing only 15 games during that span).

The big difference between the two 1,000 game players is that Brown has played every one of his games in a Kings jersey, making him only the second player in franchise history to do so. The other? The man who drafted him, former general manager Dave Taylor.

What did Dustin do to mark his achievement? In very “Jeter-esque” fashion (see: Jeter’s 3,000th hit or his final Yankee Stadium game), he scored the game-winning goal 53 seconds into overtime, sending the Staples Center crowd and his teammates into a celebratory frenzy.

Next: 3 Bold Predictions For The Kings

Brown will be honored on December 28th before the Kings next home game against the Vegas Golden Knights.