Penguins scheduled to start goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic against Stars
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The Pittsburgh Penguins are slated to start goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic for Tuesday’s game against the Dallas Stars at PPG Paints Arena.
Nedeljkovic has played in only one game this season. During a 5-2 home win against the Calgary Flames on Oct. 14, Nedeljkovic made 34 saves on 36 shots.
Throughout his career, Nedeljkovic has faced the Stars in six games and has a 2-3-1 record, a 3.29 goals against average and an .874 save percentage.
Penguins coach Mike Sullivan indicated the decision to start Nedeljkovic instead of top goaltender Tristan Jarry was related to balancing the division of labor between the two.
“We look at our schedule, we’re trying to manage the workloads of both goaltenders,” Sullivan said. “We believe we have two quality goaltenders that can both give us an opportunity to win.”
Notes:
• Penguins rookie defenseman John Ludvig is scheduled to make his NHL debut.
Claimed off waivers from the Florida Panthers on Oct. 9, the left-handed Ludvig (6-foot-1, 213 pounds) has been a healthy scratch through the first five games of the season.
A third-round draft pick (No. 69 overall) of the Florida Panthers in 2019, Ludvig, 23, played in 54 American Hockey League games with the Charlotte Checkers last season, posting 17 points (three goals, 14 assists).
“He’s a steady, solid, defending defenseman,” Sullivan said. “He’s going to bring us some grit in the battle areas. He’s strong at the net front, he defends well, he skates well, he has a good stick. I just think he’s going to bring that element to our overall game.”
• Ludvig and defenseman Ryan Shea, who made his NHL debut Saturday in a 4-2 road loss to the St. Louis Blues, were each off the ice relatively early following Tuesday’s optional morning skate. In contrast, veteran defensemen P.O Joseph and Chad Ruhwedel (as well as Jarry) were the final players on the ice.
• Those who participated in the morning skate included:
Forwards – Noel Acciari, Jeff Carter, Evgeni Malkin, Matt Nieto, Rickard Rakell, Radim Zohorna
Defensemen – Ryan Graves, Joseph, Ludvig, Ruhwedel, Shea
Goaltenders – Jarry, Nedeljkovic
• Nieto has 199 career points.
• The Stars are scheduled to start goaltender Jake Oettinger. In three games this season, Oettinger has a 2-0-1 record, a 1.58 goals against averaged and a .943 save percentage.
Throughout his career, Oettinger has faced the Penguins in three games and has a 2-1-0 record, a 2.01 goals against average and a .938 save percentage.