Nedeljkovic Starts for Sharks Against Flyers Amid Askarov’s Illness

San Jose Sharks goalie Alex Nedeljkovic will start against the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday as Yaroslav Askarov deals with an illness, according to coach Ryan Warsofsky. Askarov is expected to serve as the backup for Nedeljkovic during the Sharks’ third game of a five-game road trip.

Nedeljkovic recently showcased his skills, finishing with 28 saves, including 15 in the third period, leading the Sharks to a convincing 4-1 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes in Raleigh on Sunday. This win marked Nedeljkovic’s first since November 7, when he stopped 32 of 33 shots in a 2-1 win against the Winnipeg Jets. Prior to Sunday’s game, he had a record of 0-3-0 with a save percentage of .870 in his last five appearances.

“I’m happy that I put us in a position to win, honestly,” Nedeljkovic stated following the game. “If the guys can pull through and we can get two points, it’s huge. They played awesome tonight. We limited them in the first two periods. I thought we did a good job of just hunkering down, staying with it in our own end in the third and just keeping it simple.”

Nedeljkovic Takes on Increased Role

Tuesday’s matchup will be significant for Nedeljkovic, as it marks the first time this season he will start consecutive games for the Sharks (record: 14-13-3). Askarov had been establishing himself as the team’s primary goalie, achieving a record of 9-4-0 with a save percentage of .928 in 13 games since early November. His performance has been vital in keeping the Sharks competitive in the playoff race.

The last time Nedeljkovic started back-to-back games was on March 4 and 7 of the previous season, when he played for the Pittsburgh Penguins against the Colorado Avalanche and Vegas Golden Knights. Askarov last took to the ice on Friday, where he allowed three goals on 23 shots in a 4-1 loss to the Dallas Stars.

As the Sharks look to solidify their position in the playoff hunt, they currently hold the second wild card spot in the Western Conference with a points percentage of .517. The Flyers (record: 15-9-3) have shown resilience, winning four of their last six games and sit in sixth place in the Metropolitan Division with 33 points, just one point shy of a playoff spot.

As the game unfolds, many will watch closely to see how Nedeljkovic performs in this critical role, hoping to lead the Sharks to another victory.