By six video games, goaltending has been an space of concern for the Pittsburgh Penguins (3-3-0). Although fantastic record-wise, they’re permitting 4.17 objectives per sport with minus-3.27 objectives saved above anticipated (GSAx). Seemingly on the good time, their backup netminder from the 2023-24 season is again from a conditioning mortgage with the Wikes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the American Hockey League (AHL). This brief stint was because of a lower-body damage he suffered in coaching camp.
The Penguins have recalled goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic from his conditioning mortgage in @WBSPenguins (AHL). pic.twitter.com/zwpXpLpyWy
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) October 19, 2024
Final season, Nedeljkovic appeared in 33 video games for the Penguins, going 18-7-7. He was a stable second possibility behind Tristan Jarry, placing up an honest .902 save proportion and a pair of.97 goals-against common. For his efforts, he was given a two-year extension value a $2.5 million cap hit within the 2024 offseason.
On account of damage, the 28-year-old Ohio native was pressured to assemble himself within the AHL in 2024-25. He was victorious over the Lehigh Valley Phantoms on Oct. 18 in a 4-3 resolution, turning apart 33 of the 36 photographs he confronted. After that time, the NHL Penguins should’ve felt that his conditioning mortgage was successful—the call-up occurred lower than 24 hours later.
In Nedeljkovic’s absence, 22-year-old rookie Joel Blomqvist has served as Pittsburgh’s backup. Between the latter and Jarry, it has really been Blomqvist who has carried out at a better degree. The complete-time starter since 2020-21, Jarry’s place is most definitely secure even with underwhelming play between the pipes up to now. Blomqvist might even see some future appearances with the massive membership, but it surely sadly looks as if he’s the odd one out.
Associated: Penguins Ought to Roll With Joel Blomqvist Till Higher Choices Emerge
Of their subsequent sport (Oct. 20), the Penguins play the Winnipeg Jets (4-0-0) on the street. They’ll want each little bit of goaltending they’ll get in that one, in any other case a loss could also be of their close to future.
