Pittsburgh goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic makes a save against the Vegas Golden Knights during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Alex Nedeljkovic stopped 37 shots in his return from injury and the Pittsburgh Penguins shut out the Vegas Golden Knights 3-0 on Sunday night.
Nedeljkovic records shutout in Penguins’ victory
Alex Nedeljkovic, Pittsburgh Penguins’ goaltender, made an impressive comeback from injury as he stopped 37 shots and led his team to a 3-0 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights on Sunday night. This marked Nedeljkovic’s first shutout of the season and the eighth of his career, with his last shutout dating back to April 24, 2022, when he played for the Detroit Red Wings.
Graves and Acciari score first goals of the season
During the game, Ryan Graves and Noel Acciari both scored their first goals of the season for the Penguins. Evgeni Malkin also contributed a late empty-net goal to secure the win. Jake Guentzel’s assist extended his point streak to eight games, while Sidney Crosby and Erik Karlsson saw their lengthy point streaks come to an end. Crosby had been on an 11-game point streak, ranked third among active players, while Karlsson had an eight-game point streak, the longest for NHL defensemen. It was only the second time in 17 games this season that Crosby failed to register a point.
Nedeljkovic returns after injury
Alex Nedeljkovic had missed ten games due to a lower-body injury and was activated off long-term injured reserve for Sunday’s game. Prior to his return, Nedeljkovic had a conditioning stint with the Penguins’ American Hockey League affiliate, where he also scored a goal. This victory marked an impressive comeback for the goaltender, who has now brought stability to the Penguins’ net.
Golden Knights face road trip challenges
The Vegas Golden Knights started the season strong with an 11-0-1 record but have struggled in their recent games, losing five out of seven. Their road trip hasn’t been easy either, as Sunday’s game marked their fourth out of five consecutive away matches. Despite the setbacks, the Golden Knights remain a force to be reckoned with in the league.
Penguins’ early goal streak continues
Ryan Graves opened the scoring for the Penguins at 2:13 of the first period, maintaining the team’s trend of scoring the first goal in the majority of their games. In fact, the Penguins have scored the first goal in 14 out of their 17 games, a remarkable feat that has contributed to their success this season.
Former Golden Knight faces former team
Reilly Smith, a forward for the Pittsburgh Penguins, played against his former team, the Vegas Golden Knights, for the first time since being acquired by the Penguins in June. Smith had previously been selected by the Golden Knights in the 2017 expansion draft and played a crucial role in their Stanley Cup victory last season. He is considered one of the franchise’s leading players in goals, points, assists, and games played.
Upcoming games
The Golden Knights will conclude their five-game road trip on Wednesday when they face the Dallas Stars. Meanwhile, the Penguins will host the New York Rangers on the same day, looking to continue their winning momentum on home ice.