Ex-Red Wings goalie Alex Nedeljkovic officially makes NHL history
Former Red Wings goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic, who scored an empty net goal last night for the Penguins, made NHL history in the process.
Former Detroit Red Wings goalie Alex Nedeljkovic became the 2nd goaltender this year to score a goal an empty net, accomplishing the feat in last night's 5-2 Pittsburgh Penguins win over the Buffalo Sabres.
In doing so, he made NHL history. Not only did he score, but he became the 1st goaltender in NHL history to also have an assist in the same game.
Ironically, Nedeljkovic's goal against the Sabres was the 4th of his professional career; he's scored twice in the American Hockey League, once in the ECHL, and now in the NHL.
Nedeljkovic later said that he felt relief at the accomplishment and that it's something he'd wanted to do at the NHL level for some time now.
«[Goalies scoring] doesn't happen often. I've wanted to do it for a long time. I think I've only had one or two other opportunities to do it since I played in the NHL. It was nice to bury it.
Alex Nedeljkovic spent 2 years with the Red Wings
The Red Wings acquired Nedeljkovic from the Carolina Hurricanes in a summer trade in 2021, and it was seen at the time as one of the most shrewd moves from GM Steve Yzerman.
But he went just 25-31-11 with a 3.35 GAA in his time in Detroit, which included allowing a whopping 7 goals in his 1st game with the Red Wings in a wild 7-6 OT loss to the Lightning in October 2021.
