(Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio)

The fans don’t call him “Dad” without a proper reason.

Matt Cullen, the usual fourth-line center for the Penguins, will be playing in his 1500th career NHL game tonight when he suits up in his #7 jersey for the black and gold. The game will put Cullen by himself at 20th on the all-time games played list, surpassing Mike Modano (1499).

He is a three-time Stanley Cup winner, winning his first with Carolina in 2006 and the latter two with Pittsburgh in 2016-17. Cullen began his career in the 1997-98 season with the Anaheim Ducks, and has spent time with 5 other teams over his 21-year career: Florida, Ottawa, NY Rangers, Minnesota, and Nashville (the latter two not even existing at the beginning of Cullen’s career).

Coverage for Cullen’s milestone game begins at 6:30 tonight on Beaver County Radio. Puck drop from the PPG Paints Arena is at 7:00.