WBS Penguins’ Alex Nedeljkovic becomes first goalie in AHL history to score two career goals

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins’ goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic became the first goalie in American Hockey League history to score two career goals. He accomplished the feat during the Penguins’ 4-2 win over the Providence Bruins on Friday night.

The 27-year-old scored on an empty netter with 1:04 left in the third period, sealing the win for the Pittsburgh Penguins’ AHL affiliate.

Nedeljkovic “sniped” his first AHL goal in March 2018 as a member of the Charlotte Checkers against the Hartford Wolf Pack. He would become the 13th netminder in AHL history to score a goal.

But Nedeljkovic’s goal-scoring prowess didn’t start in the AHL. You can go all the way back to December 2016, when the goaltender was a member of the ECHL’s Florida Everblades, to find the first goal on his highlight reel.

In a game against the Atlanta Gladiators, Nedeljkovic scored an empty netter to seal a 5-3 victory, becoming the 12th goalie in league history to score a goal.

Nedeljkovic is currently on a conditioning loan with the AHL Penguins. In two games with the NHL Penguins this season, he’s 1-1-0 in two games with a .914 save percentage. He joined the Penguins after signing a one-year, $1.5 million contract on July 1.

The product of Parma, Ohio was drafted 37th overall by the Carolina Hurricanes in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft. He recorded a 15-5-3 record in the 2020-21 season, his first full NHL campaign, and was a finalist for the Calder Trophy.

He would be traded to the Detroit Red Wings, and in two seasons with Hockeytown, he posted a 25-31-11 record in 74 appearances with a .900 save percentage and a 3.35 goals-against-average.