December 31, 1999:
The Other Milestone

During the last game of the millennium, Brett Hull became the 12th player in NHL history to score 600 goals. In fact, his 600th tied the game between Dallas and Anaheim, and two minutes later #601 followed, which would be the game winner.

The last two goals of the millennium were scored by this illustrious sniper, whose overtime goal won his team the Cup six months earlier. The fans at Reunion gave Hull a well-deserved standing ovation. Later, at midnight Eastern Time, the event was commemorated in lights in Times Square as revelers ushered in the year 2000. That was how I learned of the historic goal. As for the historic assist, the news of that would wait till morning.

Guy Carbonneau's 400th assist came at 1:24 of the first, when a rebound from his shot was put in the net by Jere Lehtinen, just returned from endless weeks of recuperation for a broken ankle. This would no doubt be the last scoring milestone for Carbo, who also has 254 goals in 1,286 games.

It was fitting that the two friends reached their milestones together, and in such fashion. The Golden Brett, surely one of the most prolific scorers the game will ever see, got his name deservedly in lights. And Carbonneau, the defensive forward, attained his final scoring milestone in much greater anonymity, no doubt not minding a bit that the glory for the day went to his worthy teammate.