Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin have been standout players for the Pittsburgh Penguins recently, helping the team get back in the playoff race.
In Thursday’s game against the Washington Capitals, when Crosby and Malkin didn’t score, some new players stepped up. Alex Nedjelkovic, the goalie, was particularly impressive with 30 saves. Ryan Shea scored his first NHL goal, while Michael Bunting, who joined the team in a trade, scored his fourth goal since coming on board.
With this win, the Penguins are now just two points behind the Philadelphia Flyers and New York Islanders in the Metropolitan Division.
They’ve won three games in a row and five out of their last six, bouncing back from being nine points out of contention on March 24.
Coach Mike Sullivan praised Nedjelkovic’s performance, saying he’s been making important saves at crucial times. Pierre-Olivier Joseph also contributed a goal, and Lars Eller, a former Capitals player, scored an empty-net goal. Despite a goal from Alex Ovechkin, the Capitals lost their fourth game in a row, putting their playoff hopes in jeopardy.
