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.

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.

Penguins netminder Alex Nedeljkovic made history in a pair of ways. With roughly three minutes left in the game, the Sabres pulled their goalie for an extra attacker. Nedeljkovic collected a dumped puck and took a shot at the empty net, successfully scoring the NHL's most recent goalie goal.

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 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.

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.

Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Alex Nedeljkovic made history by becoming the first netminder to record a goal and an assist in an NHL game.

Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic scored the 19th goalie goal in NHL history. But there's more to it.

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.

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.

BUFFALO -- Alex Nedeljkovic had a goal and an assist and made 40 saves for the Pittsburgh Penguins in a 5-2 win against the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center on Friday.

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.