Penguins goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic sidelined on ‘week-to-week’ basis
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Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic will be sidelined on a “week-to-week” basis because of an undisclosed injury.
His status was announced by the team Wednesday morning.
Nedeljkovic, slated to be the team’s backup goaltender to open the regular season, was hobbled during a 5-1 road win against the Detroit Red Wings on Monday. He left the contest at 13:04 of the first period. Per the team’s radio broadcast, Nedeljkovic appeared to be favoring his right leg.
Last season, Nedeljkovic appeared in 38 games and posted a 18-7-7 record, a 2.97 goals against average, a .902 save percentage and one shutout.
The leading candidate to replace him as the temporary backup is Joel Blomqvist, one of the organization’s top prospects. Primarily assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League, Blomqvist was selected as an All-Star. In 45 games, he had a 25-12-6 record, a 2.16 goals against average, .921 save percentage and one shutout.
As a practice session opened in Cranberry on Wednesday, Blomqvist worked out with the team’s main group of NHL players. Veteran goaltender Filip Larsson, a free agent signing this past offseason, skated with a squad of reserves.
Notes:
• The team issued a handful of injury updates, including forward Blake Lizotte who will be sidelined indefinitely due to a concussion.
A free agent signing this past offseason, Lizotte was struck by a puck on the bench during a 5-2 win against the Ottawa Senators in Sudbury, Ont. on Sunday.
• Defenseman Erik Karlsson, who has yet to participate in a practice session or morning skate since training camp opened Sept. 18, skated before practice Wednesday. He has been labeled as “day to day.”
• Forward prospect Vasily Ponomarev has also been termed as “day to day” due to an unspecified injury. He slammed his left shoulder into the boards during a 2-1 home loss to the Red Wings on Tuesday and left the contest at 7:09 of the second period.
• Forward Bryan Rust was absent from practice for what was termed as a maintenance day.
• Forward Matt Nieto, still recovering from surgery to his left knee in May, skated before practice. He remains month-to-month in his recuperation.