Penguins scheduled to start goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic against Islanders
The Pittsburgh Penguins are scheduled to start goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic for Tuesday’s home game against the New York Islanders at PPG Paints Arena.
Coach Mike Sullivan announced Nedeljkovic’s status following an optional morning skate.
In 18 games this season, Nedeljkovic has a 9-4-3 record, a 2.54 goals against average, a .919 save percentage and one shutout.
Throughout his career, Nedeljkovic has faced the Islanders in four games and has a 3-0-0 record, a 2.11 goals against average and a .933 save percentage.
Notes:
• Those who participated in the optional morning skate included:
Forwards – Noel Acciari, Matthew Phillips, Jesse Puljujarvi, Valtteri Puustinen
Defensemen – P.O Joseph, John Ludvig, Chad Ruhwedel
Goaltenders – Magnus Hellberg, Tristan Jarry
• Acciari, currently designated to injured reserve due to a concussion, participated in a non-contact capacity.
• According to Sullivan, Jarry is available to dress as the backup for Tuesday’s game.
On Monday, Sullivan indicated either Jarry or Nedeljkovic — he declined to identify which one — was feeling under the weather prior to Sunday’s 2-1 home loss to the Los Angeles Kings, resulting in Hellberg being recalled under emergency conditions as a precaution. Ultimately, Jarry started and Nedeljkovic dressed as the backup on Sunday.
• Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson has 799 career points.
• The Islanders are expected to start goaltender Ilya Sorokin. In 39 games this season, Sorokin has a 16-12-11 record, a 3.12 goals against average, a .910 save percentage and two shutouts.
In 11 career games against the Penguins, Sorokin has a 6-5-0 record, a 3.06 goals against averaged, a .909 save percentage and one shutout.
• Former Penguins defenseman Robert Bortuzzo is designated to long-term injured reserve by the Islanders. And undisclosed injury has kept him out of the lineup since Jan. 2.
Seth Rorabaugh is a TribLive reporter covering the Pittsburgh Penguins. A North Huntingdon native, he joined the Trib in 2019 and has covered the Penguins since 2007. He can be reached at srorabaugh@triblive.com.
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