The Penguins are scheduled to start goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic in Sunday’s home game against the New York Islanders at PPG Paints Arena.
Coach Mike Sullivan announced Nedeljkovic’s status approximately two hours before the start of the contest.
In 10 games this season, Nedeljkovic has a 5-2-2 record, a 2.64 goals against average, a .917 save percentage and one shutout.
Throughout his career, Nedeljkovic has played the Islanders in two games, posting a 2-0-0 record, a 2.58 goals against average and a .910 save percentage.
Notes:
• Penguins defenseman P.O Joseph will remain sidelined due to an undisclosed illness. Regularly a healthy scratch as of late, Joseph was scratched due to his ailment on Saturday during a 4-2 home win against the St. Louis Blues. Per Sullivan, Joseph skated Sunday morning.
• The Penguins did not stage a formal morning skate on Sunday.
• The Islanders are scheduled to start goaltender Ilya Sorokin. In 23 games this season, Sorokin has an 11-5-7 record, a 3.17 goals against average, a .911 save percentage and two shutouts.
Throughout his career, Sorokin has played the Penguins in 10 games and has a 6-4-0 record, a 3.17 goals against average, a .905 save percentage and one shutout.
• The Islanders activated defenseman Scott Mayfield off injured reserve. He has missed the previous eight games due to an undisclosed injury.
One of the bigger players on what is a pretty large roster, Mayfield (6-foot-5, 220 pounds), has appeared in 20 games this season, and recorded four assists while averaging 19:13 of ice time per contest.
• Per Islanders coach Lane Lambert, Mayfield and forward Casey Cizikas (illness) are each considered game-time decisions.
• As recently as Wednesday, the Penguins routed the Islanders, 7-0, at UBS Arena in Elmont, N.Y. Penguins defenseman Kris Letang set or tied a handful of records by recording six assists in that contest.
