Patrick Marleau has beaten the Los Angeles Kings quite a bit during his marathon NHL career.
The Sharks center got his 71st career win over the Kings back on April 3, when San Jose edged out Los Angeles for a 3-2 win on a third-period winner from Dylan Gambrell. As NBC Sports California's Sharks statistician Darin Stephens pointed out on social media, the victory gave Marleau more regular-season victories by a single player against one team in NHL history since league expansion in 1967-68.
Stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Bay Area and California sports teams! Sign up here for our All Access Daily newsletter.
Ray Borque and Al McInnis each had 70 and were tied with Marleau prior to that win last week.
Marleau will have the chance to extend that mark to 72 as the Sharks host the Kings for a back-to-back at SAP Center on Friday.
This isn't the only milestone Marleau could surpass this season, as he has risen to No. 2 on the NHL's all-time career games played list and is just six games behind Gordie Howe for the record of 1,767 career appearances.
As long as he stays healthy and remains with the Sharks past the trade deadline, Marleau will break the record on April 19 against the Vegas Golden Knights.
San Jose Sharks
RELATED: Sharks goalie Jones playing at elite level since March
The NHL trade deadline is just a few days away, and although Marleau is amid his 23rd season in the league, he has yet to win a Stanley Cup. The Sharks are on the outside looking in as far as even getting into the playoffs, let alone being a championship contender.
The Sharks' front office tried to give him a chance to ring chase last season, trading Marleau to the Pittsburgh Penguins. But Pittsburgh was eliminated from the NHL playoff bubble in the qualifying round, and Marleau decided to come back to San Jose in free agency.
It would be a huge moment for the franchise if its most decorated player broke Howe's record in a Sharks uniform, but they also likely want him to have another chance to hoist the trophy.
Whatever happens over the next few days, Marleau has left an indelible mark on the franchise and his name litters the team's record books.
He'll have a chance to take on what appears to be his favorite opponent for a pair of games beginning on Friday night.