The Penguins snapped a three-game losing streak, improving to 19-20-8. The Sabres, now 17-23-5, will look to address their defensive and penalty-kill issues. Earlier this season they lost 11 straight games and have lost five of their last eight games.
With the Penguins leading the Sabres 4-2 and Buffalo's goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen at the bench, the Sabres would put the puck into the corner and the puck would come to Nedeljkovic. With that goal, Nedeljkovic would become just the second goalie in the Penguins' history to score a goal.
Luukkonen was sharp in Wednesday's 4-2 win over Carolina as he turned aside 35 shots. Luukkonen is 14-13-4 with a pair of shutouts, a 2.99 GAA and an .898 save percentage. The Penguins are averaging 2.96 goals per game in 2024-25.
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen wasn't able to bail out the Sabres when they began to make mistakes in the second period. Their starting goalie was outplayed by Penguins backup Alex Nedeljkovic, as Pittsburgh scored four consecutive goals and held on for a 5-2 win in KeyBank Center.
The Pittsburgh Penguins travel to Buffalo to face the Sabres in a pivotal Eastern Conference matchup at KeyBank Center. Welcome back to NHL Predictions here on Last Word on Hockey!
Alex Nedeljkovic became the second goaltender in Pittsburgh Penguins history to score a goal during a 5-2 victory against the Buffalo Sabres, at KeyBank Center in Buffalo on Friday. His score came on an empty net at 17:18 of the third period.
Nedeljkovic scored when he sent the puck from behind the net down the ice and into an empty net with 2:42 left in the third.
The goal from this point forward regarding the Buffalo Sabres season is to find optimism. They make it very difficult more often than not, putting in ugly efforts in losses to the Pittsburgh Penguins and Seattle Kraken,
The Canucks took a 2-1 lead midway through the second period, but the Sabres' new-look top line pulled them ahead in the third. Luukkonen was able to make that lead last and earned his fourth win in his last six outings despite allowing 16 goals over that span.
Kevin Hayes, Sidney Crosby and Anthony Beauvillier each had a goal and an assist to help the Pittsburgh Penguins end the Los Angeles Kings' nine-game home winning streak with a 5-1 victory on Monday night.
Linus Ullmark traveled with the Senators for their three-game road trip that begins Sunday at the New Jersey Devils (1 p.m. ET; NHLN, RDS, TSN5, MSGSN). "He's coming on the road. ... We're still day by day,” coach Travis Green said of Ullmark following a 6-5 shootout win against the Boston Bruins on Saturday.
Drew Doughty practiced with the Kings on Monday for the first time since breaking his left ankle in a preseason game against the Vegas Golden Knights on Sept. 25.