Panthers’ Brad Marchand records 1,000th NHL point

One of the most recognizable figures in the game has reached a significant milestone.

On Thursday night, in a game against the Washington Capitals, Florida Panthers forward Brad Marchand recorded the 1,000th point of his NHL career.

The point came in the waning moments of the game. With the Panthers holding a 5-3 lead, Marchand fed teammate Eetu Luostarinen, who scored an empty-net goal to secure a 6-3 win for the two-time defending Stanley Cup champions.

It was the Halifax native’s second assist of the night, helping his team grab its second win in a row.

Marchand is the 102nd player to reach the centennial mark in points in NHL history, and the second to achieve the milestone this season. Tampa Bay Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov also scored his 1,000th point a couple of weeks ago. Marchand also became the first player to score point No. 1000 as a member of the Panthers.

Marchand is off to a hot start in his first full season with the Panthers. Fresh off signing a six-year contract extension with Florida, the 37-year-old has posted 11 goals and nine assists for 20 points in 16 games, leading the team in scoring.

Across 17 seasons in the NHL, Marchand has been one of the most polarizing figures in the modern era. While he has been unquestionably one of the more productive players, his nasty side has made him a villain in many markets around the league. Yet, it hasn’t deterred the longtime Boston Bruin from becoming one of the best of his generation.

In 1,116 career regular-season games, Marchand has notched 435 goals and 565 assists. He also has 158 points in 180 Stanley Cup Playoff games. Marchand is a two-time Stanley Cup champion, winning with the Bruins in 2011 before being an important piece in helping the Cats win it all last season.