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On this day in 1989, Calgary Flames’ Lanny McDonald scores 500th goal

By Zach Laing
Mar 21, 2023, 13:19 EDTUpdated: Apr 1, 2023, 22:46 EDT
It was 34 years ago today that Lanny McDonald scored his 500th career goal.
It came in a 4-1 win over the New York Islanders that saw McDonald score the game-winning goal. Gary Roberts had opened the scoring for the Flames at the 10:29 mark of the first period, and McDonald’s goal came less than 30 seconds later assisted by Joel Otto and Jim Peplinski. 

The goal was not only the 500th of his career, but it also marked the final regular season goal he would score in his career. He would only find the net once more scoring a goal in game six of the Stanley Cup finals that year — the game in which the Flames won their lone championship.
The native of Hannah, Alta., would retire following the season and was named to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1992 alongside Marcell Dionne, Bob Gainey and Woody Dumart.
McDonald finished his career with 500 goals and 1006 points in 1111 regular season games. He added another 44 tally’s and 84 points in 117 playoff games.
He joined the Flames in a 1981 deal that saw Calgary send Don Lever and Bob MacMillan to the Colorado Rockies.
Zach Laing is the Nation Network’s news director and senior columnist. He can be followed on Twitter at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach@oilersnation.com.
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