Nedeljkovic becomes 1st goalie with goal and assist, and has 40 saves as Penguins beat Sabres 5-2

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Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic (39) celebrates with defenseman Erik Karlsson (65) after scoring during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Buffalo Sabres, Friday, Jan. 17, 2025, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)

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Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic, center, celebrates with teammates after scoring during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Buffalo Sabres, Friday, Jan. 17, 2025, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)

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Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic (39) and center Sidney Crosby (87) celebrate a 5-2 victory following the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Buffalo Sabres Friday, Jan. 17, 2025, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)

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Pittsburgh Penguins right wing Bryan Rust (17) celebrates with center Sidney Crosby (87) and defenseman Matt Grzelcyk (24) after scoring during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Buffalo Sabres, Friday, Jan. 17, 2025, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)

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Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) controls the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Buffalo Sabres Friday, Jan. 17, 2025, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)

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Pittsburgh Penguins center Cody Glass (19) celebrates his goal with forward Philip Tomasino (53) and right wing Kevin Hayes (13) during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Buffalo Sabres Friday, Jan. 17, 2025, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)

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Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin (71) is brought down by Buffalo Sabres defenseman Henri Jokiharju (10)during the second period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Jan. 17, 2025, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)

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Pittsburgh Penguins right wing Rickard Rakell (67) celebrates his goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Buffalo Sabres Friday, Jan. 17, 2025, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)

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Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) skates behind the net during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Buffalo Sabres Friday, Jan. 17, 2025, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)

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Buffalo Sabres left wing Jason Zucker (17) carries the puck past Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman P.O Joseph (73) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Jan. 17, 2025, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)

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Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman P.O Joseph (73) and Buffalo Sabres left wing Beck Malenstyn (29) battle after the whistle during the first period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Jan. 17, 2025, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)

By JOE YERDON

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Alex Nedeljkovic became the first goalie in NHL history to have a goal and an assist, and made 40 saves as the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Buffalo Sabres 5-2 on Friday night.

Rickard Rakell, Anthony Beauvillier, Cody Glass, and Bryan Rust also scored for Pittsburgh who ended a three-game losing streak.

Owen Power and Zach Benson scored for Buffalo and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 14 saves. The Sabres lost for the 18th time in 24 games (6-14-4).

Nedeljkovic’s win comes a day after former Penguins starter Tristan Jarry cleared waivers and was sent to the AHL.

Nedeljkovic had a secondary assist on Glass’ goal with 8:17 left in the second period that gave the Penguins a 3-1 lead. He then 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.

Power opened the scoring with a power play goal with 4:14 to go in the first period.

Rakell and Beauvillier scored 27 seconds apart early in the second to give the Penguins a 2-1 lead, and Rust made it 4-1 at 1:09 of the third.

Benson cut the lead to 4-2 with 5:14 to play.

Takeaways

Sabres: Buffalo’s penalty kill,, which came in 22 for 25 over the last 10 games, went 1 for 4 against the Penguins.

Penguins: Pittsburgh pulled three points behind Boston for the second wild card spot in the Eastern Conference.

Key moment

Nedeljkovic’s first NHL goal came when he handled the puck behind his own net and floated the puck the length of the ice into the empty net.

Key stat

Nedeljkovic’s goal made him the 16th goalie in NHL history to score. Minnesota’s Filip Gustavsson was the last to do it on Oct. 15 against St. Louis.

Up Next

Sabres visit Seattle on Monday to open a four-game trip, and Penguins play at Washington on Saturday.

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AP NHL: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NHL