COLUMBUS -- It fits Shane Doan's character that he prefers his 400th NHL goal would have come against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday rather than possibly two days later against the same team.
Doan scored No. 399 against the Blue Jackets at Gila River Arena on Saturday. A second goal not only would have given him the milestone, but also the Coyotes an overtime victory. Instead, the Coyotes lost 3-2 in a shootout, their third straight defeat.
Doan, 40, will have another crack at the Blue Jackets and another chance to become the 93rd NHL player to reach 400 goals at Nationwide Arena on Monday (7 p.m. ET; FS-O, FS-A, NHL.TV). He also needs one assist to become the Winnipeg Jets/Coyotes franchise leader in assists. He has 553 in 1,489 games, tied with Thomas Steen.
"Last game I had two chances in overtime so that would have been special," Doan said Monday. "Or get the winning assist in overtime, that would have been special too. The [400th] goal means it took me a really long time because I've played a lot of games. You appreciate every time you get one of those milestones."
When Doan gets the assist record he'll become the fifth NHL player from a current franchise to hold records for games played, goals, assists, points, game-winning goals and power-play goals, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
"That just means you've been around a long time, that's all," Doan said. "Some guys do it in a few years. It's taken me a long, long time. But, yeah, that would be something special."
The others are Ron Francis (Hartford Whalers/Carolina Hurricanes), Joe Sakic (Quebec Nordiques/Colorado Avalanche), Rick Nash (Blue Jackets) and Mike Modano (Minnesota North Stars/Dallas Stars).
"He is the franchise in my mind," Coyotes defenseman Michael Stone said of Doan. "He's been through it all with the team. If there's anybody that deserves the recognition that he gets, it's him. I know he'll tell you he doesn't, but he means a lot to the organization and to us in the room.
"I'm biased. I've only had one captain in the NHL. But if I had to pick one I'd be picking him."
Doan, the last of the original Jets, has three goals and four assists in 23 games this season, but it's his mentoring of the numerous young players that has impressed coach Dave Tippett.
"He's meant a lot to this organization through thick and thin," Tippet said. "He's hung in there. It shows his commitment to the organization and how good a player he is."
Doan remembers his first goal came against Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Ed Belfour in Winnipeg in 1995 but said the goals that help the Coyotes win are memorable.
"The ones I scored in the [Stanley Cup] Playoffs, you always remember those as big ones," he said. "Any time you get an overtime goal and your team wins it's a good feeling."
The same goes for getting an assist.
"That's something as a player you think it's important to try and be balanced and contribute so that others around you score," Doan said. "I'm not saying I do a great job of that but I like to try.
"I enjoy playing against the best players in the world. As I've gotten older and talked to guys who've retired, they all talk about coming to the rink and being with the guys. That's something you enjoy and appreciate it."
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