Penguins goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic scheduled to start 3rd consecutive game
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The Pittsburgh Penguins are scheduled to start goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic for the third consecutive game in Thursday’s home contest against the Columbus Blue Jackets at PPG Paints Arena.
Coach Mike Sullivan announced Nedeljkovic’s status following an optional morning skate.
Top goaltender Tristan Jarry has served as the backup for the previous two games after being pulled during a 4-2 road loss to the Dallas Stars.
“We’ve liked the way (Nedeljkovic) has played,” Sullivan said. “It’s important to understand that. We’re trying to put a lineup on the ice that gives us the best chance to win. We think he’s played extremely well.”
In 27 games this season, Nedeljkovic has an 11-6-5 record, a 2.91 goals-against average, a .906 save percentage and one shutout.
Throughout his career, Jarry has faced the Blue Jackets in 11 games and has an 8-1-1 record, a 2.39 GAA, a .922 save percentage and one shutout.
Notes:
• Penguins forward Reilly Smith is available to play after missing Thursday’s practice in Cranberry to attend to a personal matter.
• There is no official word on the status of forward Jeff Carter, who has missed the past four games due to an undisclosed injury. However, Carter was one of the first players off the ice following the optional morning skate. That is usually a strong indicator of a player being in the lineup.
• Those who participated in the optional morning skate included:
Forwards: Emil Bemstrom, Carter, Jonathan Gruden, Evgeni Malkin, Sam Poulin, Valtteri Puustinen
Defensemen: John Ludvig, Jack St. Ivany
Goaltenders: Jarry, Nedeljkovic
• Sullivan was asked about the status of forward Matt Nieto, who has not played since Nov. 30 due to a right knee injury that required surgery in early January.
Following the surgery, the team announced an expected recovery of six to eight weeks on Jan. 4.
Since then, Nieto, currently designated to long-term injured reserve, has rarely been seen on the ice even in a rehabilitation setting.
With less than three weeks remaining in the regular season, it certainly doesn’t seem like Nieto is bound to play another game in 2023-24.
“Obviously, there’s limited time left in the season,” Sullivan said. “We’ll see where it goes. They’re (the team’s medical and training staff) working extremely hard with (Nieto) to get him back as quickly as possible. Obviously, there’s been a lot of challenges that they’ve worked through to get him to this point. We’ll see where it goes. I don’t want to rule anything out at this point.”
• Penguins forward Jansen Harkins, also designated to long-term injured reserve, worked out on the ice prior to the morning skate. Per Sullivan, it was his second time on the ice since he suffered a right-hand injury on March 7.
• Penguins forward Lars Eller has 398 career points.
• Per Blue Jackets coach Pascal Vincent, former Penguins forward Alex Nylander will miss his second consecutive game due to an undisclosed injury.
Since being traded by the Penguins on Feb. 22, Nylander has been productive for the Blue Jackets, posting 11 points (eight goals, three assists) in 15 games.
In contrast, Nylander was limited to two points (one goal, one assist) in 14 games over parts of three seasons with the Penguins.
• The Blue Jackets are expected to start rookie goaltender Daniil Tarasov. In 21 games this season, Tarasov has a 7-19-3 record, a 3.24 GAA and a .904 save percentage.
Tasarov has never faced the Penguins in his career.