Hackett Reaches NHL Milestone of 500 Games Played

With his appearance in Tuesday night's Flyers-Buffalo Sabres game at the HSBC Arena, Flyers goaltender Jeff Hackett reached the NHL Milestone of 500 career games played. Hackett is the 50th goaltender in NHL history to reach this mark.

Prior to tonight’s game, Hackett, 35, had posted a 166-243-56 record, 2.90 goals-against average (GAA), .902 save percentage and 26 shutouts in 499 games over 15 NHL seasons (1988-89, 1990-91 through 2003-04) with the New York Islanders, San Jose Sharks, Chicago Blackhawks, Montreal Canadiens, Boston Bruins and the Flyers.

This season, his first as a Flyer, Hackett has posted a 10-9-6 record, three shutouts, a 2.25 GAA and .910 save percentage in 26 games prior to tonight’s game. He was signed by the Flyers as a free agent on July 1, 2003.

During the 2002-03 season, Hackett compiled a 15-17-2 record, 2.86 GAA, one shutout and a .911 save percentage in 36 games for the Canadiens and the Bruins. He posted an 8-9-0 record, 3.21 GAA, one shutout and an .894 save percentage in 18 games for the Bruins. The 6’1”, 198-pound goaltender was acquired by the Bruins from the San Jose Sharks, along with Jeff Jillson, in exchange for Kyle McLaren and a fourth round pick in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft on January 23, 2003. He was acquired by the Sharks from the Canadiens in exchange for Niklas Sundstrom and a third round pick in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft also on January 23, 2003. In 18 games for the Canadiens, Hackett registered a 7-8-2 record, 2.54 GAA and .926 save percentage.

Over parts of five seasons with the Canadiens (1998-99 to 2002-03), Hackett had a 63-68-22 record, 2.53 GAA and eight shutouts in 161 regular season games. He was acquired by Montreal, along with Eric Weinrich, Alain Nasreddine and Tampa Bay’s fourth round pick in 1999 NHL Entry Draft in exchange for Jocelyn Thibault, Dave Manson and Brad Brown on November 16, 1998. In 173 regular season games for the Blackhawks over parts of six seasons (1993-94 to 1998-99), the London, Ontario native posted a 63-75-25 record, 2.45 GAA and 14 shutouts. He was acquired by the Blackhawks from the Sharks in exchange for a third round pick in the 1994 NHL Entry Draft on July 13, 1993. Hackett was claimed by the Sharks from the Islanders in the 1991 NHL Expansion Draft. He was originally drafted by the Islanders from the Oshawa Generals of the Ontario Hockey League in the second round (34th overall) of the 1987 NHL Entry Draft.

Hackett becomes the 11th player, and third goaltender, to reach the NHL Milestone for games played while a member of the Flyers; joining Bernie Parent, Bobby Clarke, Darryl Sittler, Craig MacTavish, Ron Hextall, Luke Richardson, Mark Recchi, Jeremy Roenick, Eric Desjardins and Eric Weinrich. Parent and Hextall reached the NHL Milestone for games played for goaltenders (500 games).

Wednesday, January 14, 2004