Milestone night for Malkin, Crosby

SHORTS

CT_IC_1049675166_1049686220_016-1018_1017_NWS_ionescu.jpg

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 27: Sabrina Ionescu #20 of the New York Liberty poses with Pau Gasol, Mikal Bridges and New York Liberty owner Joe Tsai after the game against the Connecticut Sun at Barclays Center on May 27, 2023 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. The New York Liberty defeated the Connecticut Sun 85-61. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

CT_IC_1049675166_1049686720_016-1018_1017_NWS_malkin.jpg

Pittsburgh Penguins’ Kris Letang (58) celebrates with teammate Evgeni Malkin after scoring against the Montreal Canadiens during third period of an NHL hockey game in Montreal, Monday, Oct. 14, 2024. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press via AP)

CT_IC_1049675166_1049686817_016-1018_1017_NWS_swiatek.jpg

LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 6: (This Handout image was provided by a third-party organization and may not adhere to Getty Images’ editorial policy.) In this handout photo issued by AELTC, Iga Swiatek of Poland attends a press conference, after losing to Yulia Putintseva Kazakhstan in the third round of the Ladies’ Singles on No.1 Court during day six of The Championships Wimbledon 2024 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 6, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by AELTC/Joe Toth via Getty Images)

PREVIOUS IMAGE

Image

NEXT IMAGE

Milestone night for Malkin, Crosby

Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby have shared many milestones and memories throughout the last two decades as icons with the Penguins. They both enjoyed milestones on Wednesday night against the Sabres when Malkin became the 48th player in NHL history to score 500 career goals and Crosby became the 10th player in NHL history with 1,600 regular-season points in a career. Crosby’s overtime goal capped a 6-5 victory against Buffalo. When Crosby scored his 500th NHL goal in 2022, Malkin provided the assist. Crosby returned the favor at 3:26 of the third period on Wednesday. Malkin, above, who has the third-most goals in Penguins’ history with 500 in 1,150 games, is the 20th player in NHL history to score 500 goals with one team. The Penguins selected the 38-year-old Malkin No. 2 overall in the 2004 draft and he’s teamed with Crosby, 37, the top pick in the 2005 draft, to win three Stanley Cup championships. “When you look at the championships the Penguins have won while they’ve been here, their fingerprints are all over it,” Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said.

Ionescu’s long, late 3 lifts Liberty

Sabrina Ionescu watched Breanna Stewart carry the Liberty all game, until it was time to win it. Then the ball was hers. “In the timeout, (coach) Sandy (Brondello) was like, ‘You’re going to shoot the shot,’ ” Ionescu said. The star guard made it, a 3-pointer from 28 feet with a second remaining that gave the Liberty an 80-77 victory over the Lynx on Wednesday night and moved them a win away from an elusive first championship. The Liberty lead the WNBA Finals 2-1 — the first time they’ve ever been ahead in the championship round — and can win the series Friday in Minneapolis. “We know we’re one game away from winning, and I think that they are going to give us their best shot,” Stewart said. “They are going to give everything they have got, and ... so are we.” Ionescu said she had to watch replay of her shot after the game to see exactly what happened. “I didn’t even really remember it. I had to go look at the video really quickly to see like how far I was,” she said. Stewart scored 22 of the Liberty’s 45 points in the second half and finished with 30 points, 11 rebounds and four blocked shots.

Tennis No. 1 Swiatek tabs new coach

Iga Swiatek is hiring Wim Fissette to be her new coach, announcing via social media on Thursday that she’s bringing aboard someone who has worked with a long list of top players that includes Naomi Osaka, Kim Clijsters and Victoria Azarenka. “I’m excited and motivated to start a new chapter,” posted the No. 1-ranked Swiatek, who parted ways with Tomasz Wiktorowski two weeks ago after three years together. Swiatek hasn’t competed since Sept. 4, when she lost in the U.S. Open quarterfinals. Since then, Swiatek withdrew from the China Open and Korea Open. Next up for Swiatek is the season-ending WTA Finals, which will be held in November in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Swiatek is 54-7 this season with five titles and about $7.5 million in prize money. She won the French Open in June for her third consecutive title in Paris and fourth in the last five years, raising her career haul to five Grand Slam trophies. Four of those came with Wiktorowski as her coach. The 23-year-old from Poland also picked up a bronze medal at the Paris Olympics in August. —Associated Press