Penguins backup goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic closes in on return
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Sunday will be a big day for Pittsburgh Penguins backup goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic.
After all, that is when the Steelers-Browns game will be played.
Or, as the Parma, Ohio, native suggested via an unsolicited correction to a reporter, the “Browns-Steelers game.”
“The Browns game is Sunday,” Nedeljkovic said Wednesday after practice session in Cranberry. “So I might have to reschedule.”
Potentially returning to the lineup is what Nedeljkovic sarcastically suggested he may have to delay in order to root for his beloved Browns.
Currently designated to long-term injured reserve because of an undisclosed ailment, Nedeljkovic is eligible to rejoin the team’s active roster Sunday.
Nedeljkovic was placed on LTIR retroactive to Oct. 24, and NHL rules dictate players on LTIR must be sidelined for 10 games and 24 days on the NHL calendar.
With his recovery seemingly on schedule and the Penguins playing games on back-to-back dates this weekend, Nedeljkovic could be in the lineup for a home contest against the Vegas Golden Knights on Sunday.
“I’d like to be back for Sunday obviously,” said Nedeljkovic, who watched practice Monday in Cranberry while wearing the jersey of Browns defensive end Myles Garrett. “I think we’re trending in the right direction. It’s something that we’re going to have to talk to (athletic trainer Chris Stewart) and the doctor. Just make sure we’re on the right page and we’re not rushing stuff. Making sure everything is 100% before we say yes.”
Nedeljkovic was injured Oct. 24 during a 4-1 home loss to the Dallas Stars. During the third period, Nedeljkovic made an ill-advised sprint out of his crease in hopes of clearing an errant puck. Instead, he collided with Stars forward Jason Robertson and was unable to prevent Stars defenseman Thomas Harley from scoring a goal on a mostly vacant net.
After that contest, Nedeljkovic stated he made “the wrong decision.”
As it turned out, that decision hurt more than Nedeljkovic’s goals-against average or save percentage. It hurt him.
“On that third goal, I came flying out there,” Nedeljkovic said. “The guy made awkward contact with my (left) knee. That was the incident that caused it.”
A free-agent signing this past offseason, Nedeljkovic has appeared in two games this season and has a 1-1-0 record, a 3.01 goals-against average and a .914 save percentage.
He would like to improve those figures. Above all else, he just want wants to play.
“I’ve only played two games,” Nedeljkovic said. “You waited all summer to get back into games and now you’ve got to wait another month. It was tough in that aspect.”
Malkin, Nieto miss practice
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Penguins forwards Evgeni Malkin and Matt Nieto missed practice Wednesday.
According to Penguins coach Mike Sullivan, Malkin was dealing with an undisclosed malady and was withheld as a precaution. Sullivan expressed optimism Malkin will be available for Thursday’s home game against the New Jersey Devils.
Nieto was withheld for what was termed as a “maintenance day.”
Rookie defenseman John Ludvig was full contact in practice for the first time since he suffered a concussion while making his NHL debut Oct. 24. Sullivan indicated Ludvig will be given a conditioning assignment to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League but did not provide specifics as to when. Ludvig is currently designated to LTIR and is eligible to rejoin the active roster Sunday.
Forward Jeff Carter was a full participant after missing Monday’s practice with an undisclosed injury.