Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - Alex Nedeljkovic had a memorable night in goal for the Pittsburgh Penguins, making 40 saves, earning an assist and scoring an empty net goal to cap off a 5-2 victory over the Buffalo Sabres.
Nedeljkovic becomes the first goaltender to score a goal and add an assist in a single game in NHL history.
With Evgeni Malkin in the box for a four-minute high-sticking penalty, the Sabres took a 1-0 lead late in the first period as Owen Power ripped home a wrister through traffic on the power play.
The Penguins came out quick in the second period, scoring twice just moments into the middle frame.
Pittsburgh first tied the game on an early power play, as Rickard Rakell scored fired a shot past Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. Then just 27 seconds later, Anthony Beauvillier got behind the defense and gave the Penguins a 2-1 lead on a break out pass from Cody Glass.
Later in the second, the Penguins extended their lead to 3-1, as Glass scored another power play for Pittsburgh.
The Penguins, once again, capitalized on the power play just 1:09 into the third period, as Bryan Rust beat Luukkonen with a wrist shot over his glove side.
In the final minutes of the third period and the Sabres pulling Luukkonen for the extra attacker, Zach Benson was able to net a goal off a feed from Tage Thompson to cut the Buffalo deficit to 4-2.
Then with the Buffalo net empty again a few moment later, Nedeljkovic was able to contribute again on the scoresheet by scoring a goal to cap off the 5-2 Penguins victory.
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SCORING RECAP
First Period:
BUF: 15:16 - Owen Power (6) PPG (Zach Benson, Bowen Byram)
PIT: NONE
Second Period:
BUF: NONE
PIT: 1:41 - Rickard Rakell (23) PPG (Bryan Rust, Matt Grzelcyk); 2:08 - Anthony Beauvillier (10) (Cody Glass); 11:43 - Cody Glass (2) PPG (Philip Tomasino, Alex Nedeljkovic)
Third Period:
BUF: 14:46 - Zach Benson (8) (Tage Thompson, Alex Tuch)
PIT: 1:09 - Bryan Rust (18) PPG (Matt Grzelcyk, Michael Bunting); 17:18 - Alex Nedeljkovic (1) ENG (Unassisted)
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Three Stars of the Game:
1.) Alex Nedeljkovic - PIT
2.) Cody Glass - PIT
3.) Zach Benson - BUF
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What's next:
The Buffalo Sabres head out west for a four game road trip, starting in Seattle on Monday afternoon for a 4 p.m. faceoff. Catch all of the action on our sister station The Bet 1520, starting with pregame coverage at 3 p.m. with Pat Malacaro.