Penguins goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic scheduled to start against Predators

Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic is scheduled to start Saturday’s game against the Nashville Predators at PPG Paints Arena.

Coach Mike Sullivan announced Nedeljkovic’s status following an optional morning skate in Cranberry.

In 24 games this season, Nedeljkovic has a 10-9-4 record, a 3.15 goals against average and an .896 save percentage.

Throughout his career, Nedeljkovic had faced the Predators in six contests and has a 3-3-0 record, a 2.34 goals against average and a .916 save percentage.

Notes:

• Forward Danton Heinen and defenseman Vincent Desharnais, each of whom were acquired in a trade with the Vancouver Canucks late Friday night were present in Cranberry but did not participate in the morning skate. President of hockey operations Kyle Dubas was not certain if they would be available to participate in Saturday’s contest.

The Penguins brought in Heinen and Desharnais via a transaction that sent defenseman Marcus Pettersson and forward Drew O’Connor to the Canucks.

Heinen, who previously spent two seasons with the Penguins, has appeared in 51 games this season and has scored 18 points (six goals, 12 assists) while averaging 13:57 of ice time per contest.

Desharnais has skated in 34 games this season and has recorded three assists while clocking an average of 15:58 of ice time per contest.

• Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin participated in the optional morning skate, wearing a white jersey to signal no contact. He has missed the past two games due to an undisclosed injury. His status has been labeled as “week to week.”

• Having traveled overnight following a 4-3 road loss to the Buffalo Sabres on Friday, the Predators did not stage a morning skate.