Alex Nedeljkovic hit in the face by puck
(Screenshot/ Root Sports Pittsburgh)

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Penguins backup goalie Alex Nedeljkovic was struck by a puck on Tuesday
  • Nedeljkovic exited the game, but later returned, albeit with a nasty scar
  • Read below for video of the sequence, plus the aftermath of Nedeljkovic’s face

The Pittsburgh Penguins suffered a 6-2 defeat to the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday night at home, and it was also a painful one for a player who didn’t even touch the ice.

Late in the first period, backup goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic was smoked with a puck from Avs defenceman Keaton Middleton while sitting on the bench and had to exit immediately.

Via Sportsnet:

Early in the second period, the 28-year-old returned to the bench, sporting a gnarly shiner under his eye:

Nedeljkovic not looking too pleased. The guy didn’t even play and he still had to suffer. Considering Tristan Jarry let in five goals, Nedeljkovic will likely be in between the posts on Thursday night against the Montreal Canadiens.

The former second-round pick has played in 13 games this season (12 starts), posting a 4-5-3 record. He has a 3.37 GAA and a .882 save percentage. He last suited up on December 6 against the New York Rangers, taking the loss while allowing four goals on 32 shots.

Goaltending and defending has been a serious issue for Pittsburgh. They’re dead last in the league, conceding 3.72 times per contest and allowing the third-most shots per game at 32.5. Whether it’s Nedeljkovic or Jarry in net, the Penguins aren’t playing well.

Nedeljkovic agreed to a two-year deal with the organization in the offseason worth $2.5 million per season. He’ll need to play a lot better moving forward if Pittsburgh is going to be a playoff team in 2024-25. The same can be said for Jarry, who has a brutal 3.68 GAA.

In fact, Nedeljkovic has played a tad more than his counterpart. Jarry has featured in just 10 contests, but he does own a slightly better record at 5-3-1.

It does appear Nedeljkovic has dodged any serious injury from Tuesday’s incident, which is positive news for the Pens.