The Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan asked Red Wings goaltender Alex Lyon about Alex Nedeljkovic’s goal and assist registered in last night’s Pittsburgh Penguins win over Buffalo:
“He’s always been great at playing the puck, that’s been a staple in his game,” Lyon said.
For his part, don’t expect Lyon to go out anytime soon and aggressively try to duplicate what Nedeljkovic and Minnesota’s Filip Gustavsson, who scored earlier in the season, have done in scoring into empty nets.
“It’s not my thing,” Lyon said of handling the puck. “I’m always trying to get better with it. I know he (Nedeljkovic) has wanted to do that for a long time, so I’m just happy for him. And the assist, too. He was pretty hot, one-and-one, that’s good. (But) it’s not really in my toolbox.
“He was talking about it after the game and how he watched Marty Turco and (Martin) Brodeur and those guys, and they were amazing. It’s just something that I have not been drawn to. So, I’m always trying to get better at it, but no, there’s no huge desire to score a goal. But if I did, it would be cool.”
Penguins players, and Lyon himself, noted Nedeljkovic was only a fight away from earning a Gordie Howe hat trick (goal, assist, fight). And Nedeljkovic came close Friday with that, too.
“Kind of the nature of the goaltending position in 2025,” Lyon said.
