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Alex Nedeljkovic Helps Penguins Shut Out Golden Knights, 3-0

Peter Allen Bak
Peter Allen Bak
3 Min Read
Nov 19, 2023; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Adin Hill (33) makes a save against Pittsburgh Penguins right wing Bryan Rust (17) during the third period at PPG Paints Arena. Pittsburgh won 3-0. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Alex Nedeljkovic made a triumphant return from injury by stopping 37 shots, leading the Pittsburgh Penguins to a 3-0 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights on Sunday night.

Nedeljkovic secured his first shutout of the season and the eighth of his career, with his previous shutout dating back to April 24, 2022, while playing for the Detroit Red Wings.

Ryan Graves and Noel Acciari notched their first goals of the season and their first with Pittsburgh. Evgeni Malkin added an empty-netter late in the game, assisted by Jake Guentzel, who extended his point streak to eight games. The Penguins snapped a brief two-game losing streak with this win.

Sidney Crosby and Erik Karlsson both saw their impressive point streaks end. Crosby’s 11-game streak, the third-longest active streak in the league, and Karlsson’s eight-game streak, the longest among NHL defensemen, were both halted. Crosby has been held without a point only twice in 17 games this season.

Nedeljkovic, who had missed 10 games due to a lower-body injury, was activated off long-term injured reserve on Sunday. He had recently scored a goal during a conditioning stint with the Penguins AHL affiliate, marking the second goal of his career.

Adin Hill made 30 saves for the Golden Knights, who started the season with an 11-0-1 record but have now lost five of their last seven games. Sunday’s game was the fourth of a season-long five-game road trip for Vegas, which is currently playing eight of nine games on the road.

Graves opened the scoring for Pittsburgh just 2:13 into the first period. The Penguins have scored the first goal in 14 of their 17 games, leading the NHL in that category. Acciari doubled the lead at 11:39 of the second period when Hill was caught out of position due to a misdirected pass from defenseman Alec Martinez.

In addition, Penguins forward Reilly Smith faced his former team for the first time since being traded to Pittsburgh in June. Smith, selected by the Golden Knights in the 2017 expansion draft, was instrumental in their Stanley Cup win last season and ranks among the franchise leaders in goals, points, assists, and games played.

UP NEXT

  • Golden Knights: Conclude their five-game road trip Wednesday at Dallas.
  • Penguins: Host the New York Rangers on Wednesday.
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By Peter Allen Bak
Peter Allen Bak is a part-time writer and reporter based in Las Vegas, Nevada. Born and raised in Casa Grande, Arizona, Peter played both football and soccer for his high school team. His passion for sports continued into adulthood, where he became an avid fan of the Las Vegas Raiders, Vegas Golden Knights, and the Los Angeles Lakers. Peter graduated from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) in 2008, where he honed his writing skills and developed a keen interest in sports business. An enthusiastic traveler, Peter enjoys exploring international destinations during his free time. When he's not globetrotting, he can often be found hiking the scenic trails around Las Vegas or testing his strength and agility through bouldering. In recent years, he has also taken up pickleball. In 2012, Peter married his high school sweetheart, Kimberly. The couple has since welcomed three children into their lives: their son Connor, and twin daughters Kiara and Kacey.