It’s rarefied air for Steven Stamkos.
The Nashville Predators veteran scored his 600th career goal on Wednesday in the first period of a matinee with the Vegas Golden Knights.
Stamkos, 36 in February, becomes the third active player to reach the mark, behind NHL all-time leading scorer Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby, and 22nd in league history.
The goal was the Markham, Ont. native’s 18th on the season, beating Akira Schmid with just under four minutes remaining in the frame. Luke Evangelista and Filip Forsberg picked up assists on the goal.
A two-time Stanley Cup winner, Stamkos is in his 18th NHL season and second in Music City. Stamkos spent the first 16 seasons of his career with the Tampa Bay Lightning, who originally selected him with the first overall pick of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft out of the Ontario Hockey League’s Sarnia Sting.
Stamkos was skating in his 1,203rd career game on Wednesday.