Penguins Activate Nedeljkovic, Buy Time with Decision

The Pittsburgh Penguins activated goalie Alex Nedeljkovic from the injured reserve list Thursday morning, but that’s not the end of rookie Joel Blomqvist’s NHL run.

The Penguins assigned Nedeljkovic to the AHL on a conditioning assignment, given that he missed several preseason games with a lower-body injury that he suffered against the Detroit Red Wings on Sept. 30.

The move will also buy Penguins GM Kyle Dubas and coach Mike Sullivan to sort through an increasingly complicated goaltending situation. Starter Tristan Jarry has not been sharp and was pulled in the first period from the Penguins’ 6-5 overtime win over the Buffalo Sabres Wednesday. Blomqvist relieved Jarry at 8:27 of the first period and earned the win in relief when the Penguins overcame a 3-1 deficit.

Blomqvist has a .913 save percentage in three appearances, including two starts in the first five games this season. Conversely, Jarry has a 5.47 goals-against-average and a meager .833 save percentage.

The standard term of a conditioning assignment is 14 days, though the team can shorten it at its discretion.