MLive’s Ansar Khan discusses Alex Nedeljkovic’s role in the Red Wings’ 4-2 victory over the St. Louis Blues this morning. As Khan notes, the Red Wings weren’t necessarily thrilled with the fact that Nedeljkovic had to make 33 spectacular saves along the way toward bailing out the Wings last night, but they took it:
“Especially in the third, he was unbelievable, made huge, huge saves,” Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill said. “We gave up way too many chances in the third. We got to get better, but you’d like to get better when you’re winning, and the goalie gives you a chance to do that and I thought he was great.”
Blashill broke from the strict rotation he has used almost exclusively with Nedeljkovic and Thomas Greiss and started Nedeljkovic in back-to-back games. The Red Wings (9-9-3) stopped a four-game slide (0-3-1).
Nedeljkovic made several saves with his quick lateral movement. His most noteworthy stop came about two minutes after Adam Erne put Detroit ahead 3-2 at 4:38 of the third, a diving glove save.
“Just battling, just trying to compete,” Nedeljkovic said. “I had to get back over. It was kind of a bang-bang play. Just getting out of position, recognizing the puck is on his stick already and I still was over on the other side of the net. I’m just trying to take up as much net as possible.”
The Blues, who had back-to-back power plays midway through the third, outshot the Red Wings 15-9 in the third period.
“A few (saves) I was kind of caught out of position, so for me really it was nice to save my own butt,” Nedeljkovic said. “Just giving (his teammates) the confidence to be able to play their game, play with some swagger, play with some confidence knowing that if something kind of slips up, I’ll be able to make the save for them.”
Continued; AWood40 posted a clip of game highlights from last night, too:
