Why Alex Nedeljkovic's NHL Goalie Goal Is Extra Special

Alex Nedeljkovic wrote NHL history in Friday's game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Buffalo Sabres.

He became the 19th goalie to score a goal in NHL history in a two-point performance. Nedeljkovic also provided a secondary helper for a Cody Glass power-play goal in the second period.

Late in the third period, the goaltender controlled the puck on a dump-in by the  Sabres. Without making a mistake, he took the puck around the net and looked up before launching the puck the length of the ice.

In celebration, Nedeljkovic skated to the bench and was swarmed by his teammates.

A multi-point outing for a goalie has happened 47 times. Pyotr Kochetkov of the Carolina Hurricanes was the latest to do it in December against the New York Rangers.

However, Nedeljkovic becomes the first-ever goalie to record a goal and an assist in the same game. He joined teammates Bryan Rust and Cody Glass in recording a goal and assist for the Penguins in their 5-2 win over the Sabres.

The history of this goal goes even further than the NHL. Nedeljkovic is now the only goalie to score a goal in the NHL, AHL and ECHL.

He has done it twice in the AHL. The first time was in 2018 with the Charlotte Checkers, an affiliate of the Carolina Hurricanes at the time. The 29-year-old did it again with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in 2023.

In the ECHL, he scored his first professional goalie goal with the Florida Everblades.

Nedeljkovic is also one of three goaltenders to score a goal in the NHL and AHL. The other two are Chris Mason and Tristan Jarry, who was placed on waivers by the Penguins on Jan. 15.

On top of this unforgettable night for Nedeljkovic and the Pens, he played a solid game between the pipes. He faced 42 shots and stopped 40 of them, finishing the night with a .952 save percentage.

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