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Milan Lucic celebrates 1,000th game by kindly accepting Scott Sabourin's fight request

Calgary Flames forward Milan Lucic celebrated his 1,000th career game as only he could, falling just short of a Gordie Howe hat trick against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday.

It was a vintage performance from Lucic, who set up the game's opening goal, finding Juuso Valimaki all alone at the side of the net. Minutes later, Lucic proceeded to get into a fight with Toronto's new enforcer, Scott Sabourin, who was all too happy to facilitate the scrap.

After the game, both combatants explained how it all went down.

Lucic couldn't be happier too, as the Flames secured a 3-2 overtime victory when Johnny Gaudreau undressed former teammate David Rittich for the game-winner. Rittich, incidentally, was making his first start for the Maple Leafs upon being traded by the Flames.

"I just wish I didn’t miss the net on the shift before the fight, otherwise I would have had the Gordie in three shifts," Lucic said via Sportsnet's Eric Francis. "It would have been nice — a cool storyline. It’s a great achievement and it makes it even better when you get a huge win."

Lucic's best days are long behind him, but Tuesday night was another special moment in his decorated career, a game that neither team, for better or worse, will forget shortly.

TORONTO, ON - April 13  In first period action, Toronto Maple Leafs right wing Scott Sabourin (49) and Calgary Flames left wing Milan Lucic (17) mix it up at centre ice.  
The Toronto Maple Leafs took on the Calgary Flames in NHL hockey action at the Scotiabank arena in Toronto.
April 13 2021        (Richard Lautens/Toronto Star via Getty Images)
Calgary Flames forward Milan Lucic fell just short of a Gordie Howe hat-trick during his 1,000th NHL game. (Richard Lautens/Toronto Star via Getty Images)

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