BUFFALO, N.Y. — Alex Nedeljkovic became the first goalie in NHL history to have a goal and an assist, and made 40 saves as the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Buffalo Sabres 5-2 on Friday night.
Nedeljkovic had a secondary assist on Cody Glass’ goal with 8:17 left in the second period that gave the Penguins a 3-1 lead. He then scored when he sent the puck from behind the net down the ice and into an empty net with 2:42 left in the third.
Nedeljkovic’s first NHL goal, which came when he handled the puck behind his own net and floated the puck the length of the ice into the empty net, made him the 16th goalie in NHL history to score. Minnesota’s Filip Gustavsson was the last to do it on Oct. 15 against St. Louis.
Nedeljkovic joins Tristan Jarry (Nov. 30, 2023) as the second Penguins goaltender to score a goal, according to ESPN Research. The only other franchise in NHL history to feature multiple netminders with a goal is Nashville (Pekka Rinne on Jan. 9, 2020 & Chris Mason on April 15, 2006).
Nedeljkovic also became just the fourth goaltender in Penguins history to record two points in a game, joining Tom Barrasso, Wendell Young and Michel Dion.
Nedeljkovic’s win comes a day after former Penguins starter Tristan Jarry cleared waivers and was sent to the AHL.
Rickard Rakell, Anthony Beauvillier and Bryan Rust also scored for Pittsburgh who ended a three-game losing streak and pulled three points behind Boston for the second wild card spot in the Eastern Conference.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.