Bad Luck: Penguins Backup Nedeljkovic Leaves Game; Gets Beaned on Bench

For the second time this season, a player on the Pittsburgh Penguins bench has been forced to leave the game after being struck in the head by an errant puck. Penguins backup goalie Alex Nedeljkovic was minding his own business when a dump-in attempt went awry.

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Keaton Middleton attempted to shoot the puck into the offense zone, but instead, his shot hit the unprotected Nedeljkovic on the bench.

Nedeljkovic immediately hunched forward, holding his head, and was ushered to the locker room by trainers.

Penguins starter Tristan Jarry allowed a pair of goals in the first period on 10 shots. Should Nedeljkovic be unable to return and Jarry suffer an injury, emergency backup goalie Mike Chiasson would take the net.

In a game featuring Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia stars Sidney Crosby vs. Nathan MacKinnon, it seems fitting that Chiasson is also from Cole Harbour.

The first time a Penguins player was struck by an errant puck was in the preseason when Blake Lizotte was concussed against the Ottawa Senators in the Kraft Hockeyville game on Sept. 29.

Update: Nedeljkovic was not on the bench to start the second period.

Update 2: Nedeljkovic returned to the bench about three minutes into the second period.