The Pittsburgh Penguins are scheduled to start goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic in Wednesday’s home game against the Detroit Red Wings at PPG Paints Arena.
Tristan Jarry is slated to serve as his backup while rookie Joel Blomqvist will be a healthy scratch.
Coach Mike Sullivan announced the team’s plans in net following an optional morning skate in Cranberry.
In eight games this season, Nedeljkovic has a 2-3-2 record, a 3.25 goals against average and an .882 save percentage.
A member of the Red Wings for parts of two seasons, Nedeljkovic has played against that team in four contests throughout his career, posting a 4-0-0 record, 2.76 goals against average and .908 save percentage.
Jarry has not dressed at the NHL level since he served as Blomqvist’s backup in a 4-1 home loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Oct. 18. After spending two weeks with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League (AHL) for a conditioning assignment, he was recalled to the NHL roster Saturday and was scratched during a 7-1 home loss to the Dallas Stars on Monday.
Notes:
• Penguins rookie forward Sam Poulin is expected to make his season debut at the NHL level. A first-round draft pick (No. 21 overall) in 2019, the 23-year-old Poulin has appeared in 11 AHL games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, posting nine points (three goals, six assists).
• Those who participated in the optional morning skate included:
Forwards – Blake Lizotte, Evgeni Malkin, Drew O’Connor, Poulin, Jesse Puljujarvi, Valtteri Puustinen
Defensemen – Matt Grzelcyk, Ryan Shea, Jack St. Ivany
Goaltenders – Blomqvist, Jarry, Nedeljkovic
• Nothing is official, but it appears Shea will dress while St. Ivany will be a healthy scratch. Shea was off the ice following the morning skate much earlier than St. Ivany. That is typically a strong indicator of how a lineup will be composed.
• Following Tuesday’s trade of 35-year-old forward Lars Eller to the Washington Capitals, the average age of the Penguins’ roster dropped from 30.2 to 29.7.
• Penguins forward Sidney Crosby has scored 598 career goals.
• Per the Detroit Free Press, the Red Wings are scheduled to start goaltender Cam Talbot. In eight games this season, Talbot has a 4-2-1 record, a 2.40 goals against average, a .926 save percentage and one shutout.
Throughout his career, Talbot has played the Penguins in 12 contests and posted a 3-4-4 record, a 3.24 goals against average and a .901 save percentage.
