Since Evgeni Malkin broke into the NHL in 2006-07, the year after Sidney Crosby's rookie season, the order of the final players coming out of the tunnel has been the same.
Crosby comes out next-to-last, Malkin comes out last.
Crosby came out last his rookie NHL season, just as he did in juniors in Rimouski. But as the story goes, when Malkin came into the league the following season, he told Crosby that he also was used to coming out of the tunnel last.
The two discussed who would come out last, and Malkin pulled rank, telling Crosby, "Me three years Superleague," meaning Malkin played in the Russian professional league for three seasons, and Crosby had only played in the NHL for one year.
Malkin got his way, and for the past 14 seasons, that has been the order coming out of the tunnel when both players are healthy.
Until now.
In Tuesday's 7-3 win over the Senators, Patrick Marleau skated out next-to-last, with Crosby going out ahead of him, and Malkin still coming out last.
It was surprising to see, given how superstitious Crosby typically is with his routines. But it was because Crosby was superstitious that he gave Marleau his spot.
The Penguins entered Tuesday's game riding a six-game losing streak, a skid in which Crosby had only scored one goal. Something needed to change, and it started with the tunnel lineup.
"He wanted to switch it up," Marleau laughed. "It worked tonight, so we'll see how long it lasts."
"He's played 1,700-plus games," Crosby explained. "I just asked him where he usually went, he usually went somewhere back there. I said, 'Let's try that one tonight, that spot.' We got the win, so we'll see that for now."
Marleau said he isn't a superstitious guy himself, and that he'll just keep lining up where Crosby wants him.
"I'll do whatever these guys tell me," he laughed.
PHOTO GALLERY
Penguins vs. Senators, March 3, 2020, PPG Paints Arena. - GETTY