93.7 The Fan (PITTSBURGH) - Alex Nedeljkovic makes 36 saves and the Penguins win their third straight game, in a 3-1 victory over the Islanders.
Nedeljkovic got the start in net after Tristan Jarry played Saturday against the Blues. He allowed just one goal from Samuel Bolduc. He improved to 6-2-2 on the year.
For the Penguins, the three goals came from 3rd and 4th line centers, as Lars Eller scored in the first period and an empty netter in the third. Noel Acciari scored the other one in the second period.
"It's great to see those guys come up on the score sheet," said Mike Sullivan. "They work hard every day, they're an important part of this team. They don't always get rewarded on the score sheet but they do a lot of little things that help us win games."
After Pittsburgh made it 1-0, the Islanders were on the attack multiple times in the first period and Nedeljkovic made some huge saves. Mathew Barzal was behind the Penguins net and found an open Casey Cizikas for a one timer that Nedeljkovic stopped.
About six minutes later while on the power play, Nedeljkovic turned away a one timer from Brock Nelson not once, not twice, but three times during the possession for New York, to keep it 1-0.
"We did a good job of trying to force them to make the extra pass, I just threw my glove up, we did a good taking up the net too," said Nedeljkovic. "It just hit me and then we found a way to clear pucks, so it's just a scramble and a couple lucky plays on my part."
Sidney Crosby left the game after Mathew Barzal caught him with a stick to the face, but after he got stitches, returned to the game.
The Penguins have now won five of their last six games. They host Washington Tuesday January 2nd at 7:30.
