Nedeljkovic in Net; Sullivan’s Plans for Penguins Goaltending
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Alex Nedeljkovic will start in net again for the Pittsburgh Penguins. It’s “Ned’s net,” as coach Mike Sullivan has tabbed the Penguins’ backup goalie to start his fourth straight game when the Penguins visit the Columbus Blue Jackets Saturday at Nationwide Arena.
It’s not only the fourth straight start but will be the fifth straight appearance for Nedeljkovic, as he relieved started Tristan Jarry in the Penguins’ 4-2 loss to the Dallas Stars eight days ago.
Saturday, coach Mike Sullivan laid out the plan for the goalies, but it probably isn’t as defined as it was a week ago.
“It’s a discussion we have after every game. We certainly have games penciled in for both of them,” Sullivan said. “But we’re going to make decisions day to day, and performance always is going to be the dictator.”
That’s not exactly a ringing endorsement of a No. 1 goalie.
The Penguins have won two straight, a strong 60-minute effort against the Carolina Hurricanes Tuesday and a slumbering, sloppy victory over Columbus at PPG Paints Arena Thursday. Nedeljkovic started both games and the prior game in which the Penguins earned a point whilst blowing a four-goal lead to the Colorado Avalanche.
Nedeljkovic, 28, has started in several crucial games this month, including a 6-3 win over the Detroit Red Wings, whom the Penguins trail in the wild-card race, and against Carolina, essentially a must-win game if the Penguins had any hopes of prolonging their playoff pursuit.
He has relieved starter Tristan Jarry three times in March, beginning with the March 7 debacle against the Washington Capitals on the night the Penguins traded the popular winger Jake Guentzel. On March 16, Nedeljkovic relieved Jarry in the 7-4 loss to the New York Rangers, which the Penguins tried but could not keep up with the Metro Division leader, and in Dallas.
Jarry hasn’t started since Sullivan yanked him early in the third period against Dallas.
While Nedeljkovic’s stat line doesn’t leap off the page over the last several games, his performance has been impactful with important saves, especially early and late in games. He’s posted a .938 save percentage over the last three, including gobbling up 38 of 39 shots against Carolina.
Nedeljkovic will be an unrestricted free agent on July 1 as his one-year, $1.5 million deal with the Penguins expired. He’s undergone a resurgence with the Penguins after a couple of difficult seasons with the Detroit Red Wings, including being demoted to the AHL last season.
This season with the Penguins, the gregarious goalie who dared wear a Miles Garrett Cleveland Browns jersey into the locker room after his hometown Browns beat the Pittsburgh Steelers is 12-6-5 with a .905 save percentage.
Jarry has slumped in March, posting an .870 save percentage behind both some energetic and abysmal performances by the Penguins’ skaters. He’s 2-6-1 with a 4.40 goals against average. He figures to start at least one of the games next week when the Penguins have back-to-back games against the New Jersey Devils and New York Rangers.
The Penguins No. 1 goalie has dropped to a .903 save percentage and a 19-24-5 record.
For now, the team is riding Nedeljkovic’s swift glove hand and quick pads, and Sullivan doesn’t appear to be in any hurry to take it away. After all, performance matters.
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I would be very comfortable going forward with Ned and get young foward(s) OR heavy D for # 35. Sounds like there’s a good young goalie in WBS.
I agree, start the year with Ned-Blomqvist and let them push one another, split games as needed. They’ll probably also need at least 2 reasonably priced Vet goaltenders for insurance/AHL conditioning. Eller and the younger players can fill out the bottom 6. The needs in FA, addressed in this order: a 2C (Malkin to wing); a defensive parter for Letang; a Guentzel replacement for Crosby. The problematic contracts can be moved w/o RS, but I think the return will be less than market value i.e. lower draft picks/future considerations. I would be fine with that outcome as long as FA… Read more »
Get Hellberg back.
Easier said than done. Who will be willing to take Jarry’s contract?? Not many teams as everybody has seen the same things as us…. I’m afraid we’ll have to see this guy in a Pens jersey for 4 more seasons unless KD (or next gm!!!) decide to waive him or buying him out…
Any team that takes an early exit from the playoffs could be interested in Jarry. I always the thought Jarry and Guentzel to Ottawa for Tkazuck straight up
could have been a good deal. Pens add toughness and basically have their next captain once the big 3 move on.
Why would Ottawa trade Tkachuk?
Jarry, who has a CAREER SPLIT (meaning not just one year but every year) of .920 save percentage in months of Oct-Dec, and bordering on sub .900 save percentage in months of Jan-Apr, is signed for 5 years 5+ million. Graves, has a corsi of about 46% when on the ice, and his teams have a corsi of about 56% when he is off the ice for his Career. Is earning 4.5 million for 6 years. I like both of these guys…but I would argue they both got too much term and maybe too much money based on career averages.… Read more »
Behind a team that has at the very least a remote interest in playing defense, Jarry would be just fine. Maybe Dubas could pitch him to one of those teams that is always looking for a goaltender like LA, Edmonton, or Toronto.
Terrible choice. Sullivan took the starting job away from Jarry. Wherescwas the defense in front of the net for the lost 4 games
I agree Jarry should be in tonight. Columbus only had 17 shots on Wed, tonight would have been a good game to work Jarry back in. Need to pump up him for potential trade this summer.
Start over!!!!