Stamkos Scores 500th Goal in Vancouver

Steven Stamkos scored the 500th goal of his NHL career Wednesday night in Vancouver in the Lightning’s 5-2 win over the Vancouver Canucks. The 500th goal came in the first period and turned out to be the first of three on the night for his eleventh career hat-trick.

Upon scoring his 499th goal last Thursday against Vancouver, Stamkos seems to have been completely snake-bitten as far as finding the back of the net again. He finally found it Wednesday and it comes as the season full of accolades for the Lightning captain rolls on.

Stamkos even received a standing ovation from the Vancouver crowd out of respect for the incredible accomplishment. Very similar to the one he received in Winnipeg for his 60th goal back in 2012.

We outlined at the beginning of the season that the milestones would seem to come one after another for Stamkos. This season alone, he has reached 500 goals, 500 assists and 1,000 points. Next in line will be 1,000 games played, which will also be reached this season as long as Stamkos remains healthy.

Stamkos now joins Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby as the only active players to reach 500 career goals.

One goal was not enough as Stamkos would add another goal in the first period as the Lightning piled on with four goals in the opening frame. The captain would put the icing on the cake in grand fashion as he put the game away with an empty net goal for his third of the night.

Celebrate with this new Steven Stamkos shirt from BreakingT.

While scoring a hat-trick, Stamkos became the eighth player to do so in the same night they scored their 500th career goal and the first to do since Mats Sundin in 2006.