Alex Nedeljkovic's 9th career shutout lifts Pens over Predators

Field Level Media|published: Sat 1st February, 21:57 2025

NHL: Pittsburgh Penguins at Nashville Predators

Dec 19, 2024; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Pittsburg Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry (35) blocks the shot of Nashville Predators center Mark Jankowski (17) during the third period at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images

Alex Nedeljkovic made 25 saves for his first shutout of the season as the Pittsburgh Penguins blanked the visiting Nashville Predators 3-0 on Saturday night.

Sidney Crosby scored and added an assist, Philip Tomasino and Bryan Rust added goals, and Erik Karlsson and Rickard Rakell picked two assists apiece for the Penguins.

Pittsburgh has won back-to-back games after snapping a three-game skid in Utah on Wednesday. The Penguins have points in 13 of their last 15 games against the Predators (11-2-2).

Nedeljkovic wrapped up the ninth shutout of his career.

Juuse Saros, who was scratched due to illness on Friday in Buffalo, made the start Saturday and stopped 33 shots. Nashville has dropped four straight games.

Pittsburgh opened the scoring at the midway mark of the first period as Tomasino one-timed a Karlsson pass glove-side past Saros for his sixth of the season.

Tomasino, whom the Penguins acquired from the Predators for a fourth-round draft pick in November, snapped a six-game goalless drought.

Crosby doubled the Penguins lead at 10:43 of the middle frame, one-timing a feed from Rackell short-side past Saros to extend his point streak to four games (four goals, two assists).

With the secondary assist, Karlsson has 135 career multi-assist games.

Rust added an empty-netter with 2:01 remaining in the third period to reach the 20-goal plateau for the sixth time in his career.

On Friday night, the Penguins made a trade with the Vancouver Canucks, re-acquiring forward Danton Heinen and defenseman Vincent Desharnais as part of a five-player transaction. Heinen previously spent parts of two seasons with the Penguins (2021-23).

Heinen and Desharnais were in the lineup on Saturday. Heinen finished with three shots on goal in 12:42 of ice time, while Desharnais had four blocked shots and two hits in 16:17.

Saturday was the second and final meeting of the season between the teams. Pittsburgh won 5-4 in overtime on Dec. 19 in Nashville.

--Field Level Media

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