Many of the Penguins think the spark Nedeljkovic provides on and off the ice might be just what they need to make a postseason push.

During the final minutes of the Penguins’ game against the Sabres on Friday, goalie Alex Nedeljkovic sniped a goal from the other side of the ice, becoming the first goalie in history to record a goal and an assist in the same NHL game. Upon scoring the goal, Nedeljkovic leaped into the Penguins’ bench, where he was mobbed by his teammates.

Nedeljkovic scored into an empty net at 17:18 of the third period after the Sabres pulled their goalie for an extra skater.

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.

Alex Nedeljkovic may not have gotten a Gordie Howe hat trick on Friday in Buffalo, just missing the fight portion. But his unique accomplishment that night should perhaps be named after him moving forward.

Alex Nedeljkovic became the second goaltender in Pittsburgh Penguins history to score a goal during a 5-2 victory against the Buffalo Sabres, at KeyBank Center in Buffalo on Friday. His score came on an empty net at 17:18 of the third period.

Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic had an excellent night between the pipes on Friday night. He stopped 40 of the 42 shots he faced in a 5-2 win over the Buffalo Sabres, but he also made NHL history by generating some offense.

Nedeljkovic became the first goalie in NHL history to have a goal and an assist in a game during the Pittsburgh Penguins’ 5-2 win against the Buffalo Sabres.

With the Penguins leading the Sabres 4-2 and Buffalo's goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen at the bench, the Sabres would put the puck into the corner and the puck would come to Nedeljkovic. With that goal, Nedeljkovic would become just the second goalie in the Penguins' history to score a goal.

Nedeljkovic 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.

Mason McTavish and Alex Killorn each scored two goals and John Gibson made 31 saves as the host Anaheim Ducks snapped a four-game losing streak with a 5-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday night.