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GOALIE GOAL! Nedeljkovic Shoots and Scores, Makes NHL History

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Pittsburgh Penguins Alex Nedeljkovic goalie goal

BUFFALO — The Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Buffalo Sabres 5-2 at Key Bank Center Friday. Sure, the details are important, as are the crucial two points the Penguins earned in the win. However, the game also featured the hockey equivalent of an albatross when goalie Alex Nedeljkovic scored a goal.



According to the NHL, he also became the first goalie in NHL history to score a goal and assist in the same game. Coach Mike Sullivan said the players were teasing their goalie about needing a fight for a Gordie Howe hat trick.

At 17:18 of the third period, Nedeljkovic retrieved the puck from behind the Penguins net and let rip. The puck essentially traveled all 200 feet of the rink as Nedeljkovic let rip from behind the goal line.

Nedeljkovic had a special game on Friday. Days after the team waived starting goalie Tristan Jarry, calling up prospect Joel Blomqvist, Nedeljkovic staked his claim to the net with numerous tough saves and 40 total saves. He added to his stellar night between the pipes with a two-point game and his first NHL goal:

He split the posts from about 200 feet.

That was the 19th goalie goal in NHL history, counting the playoffs. The only other Penguins goalie to score a goal was Jarry last season in Tampa Bay.

After he released the shot, Nedeljkovic was hit by a Sabres forechecker and spun around, so he didn’t know where his shot was headed. When he was able to regain his footing, the puck was at the blue line.

“I saw it at the offensive blue line. I didn’t think it had a chance. There’s no way, (but) then I saw Erik Karlsson with his hands in the air,” Nedeljkovic said through a beaming smile he could not control.

The goalie then raced to the Penguins bench. He said he intended to high-five the players on the bench, but the celebration became much more. Nedeljkovic lept onto the bench as the team mobbed him.

“I love that sh*t,” said Bryan Rust.

As another anomaly to the goal, Nedeljkovic’s backup Friday was newly recalled Joel Blomqvist, who was also Nedeljkovic’s backup when he scored an AHL goal last season.

Nedeljkovic scored two career AHL goals and one in the ECHL, too. Friday was his first NHL goal. He couldn’t stop smiling.