CALGARY -- Jarome Iginla has joined the 500-goal club.
The Calgary Flames captain scored the 500th goal of his NHL career Saturday against the Minnesota Wild.
Iginla came down the right wing and sent a pass in front that went off the skates of two Minnesota players and in past Wild goalie Nicklas Backstrom at 8:33 of the third period to give Calgary a 2-0 lead.
There was a brief pause at Scotiabank Saddledome as fans wondered if another Flames player had deflected the puck home.
But the crowd erupted soon after into a standing ovation and every Calgary player spilled off the bench to congratulate Iginla.
Chants of "Iggy, Iggy" soon filled the arena as Iginla stood on the bench and acknowledged the crowd with a wave.
The goal stood up as the game-winner in the Flames' 3-1 victory.
Theo Fleury noted his former teammate's accomplishment on Twitter: "Congrats Iggy on 500 Way to go!!!!"
Iginla is the 42nd player in NHL history to reach the milestone and just the 15th to do it with one team.
His first regular-season goal came in his first regular-season game, Oct. 5, 1996, against the Vancouver Canucks.
Iginla's first goal in the NHL actually came during the 1996 Stanley Cup playoffs the previous spring.
The then 18-year-old Iginla signed with Calgary and joined the club after his WHL team was eliminated from post-season play. He had a goal and an assist in two games with the Flames in their series with the Chicago Blackhawks.
