Alex Nedeljkovic made his World Championship debut on Monday in Czechia ... and it didn't go so hot.
Monday was the first time in this year's tournament that he even dressed, with Alex Lyon earning the starting role at the start of the tournament. An injury to Lyon last game forced him out of the tournament, giving Nedeljkovic his first start for Team USA's game against Slovakia.
Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Nedeljkovic was pulled in the second period after allowing four goals on 16 shots when the U.S. trailed 4-1. Trey Augustine, a Red Wings prospect who was a freshman at Michigan State this season, took over in net and stopped 8 of 9 shots. The U.S. scored three goals in the third period to force overtime, but Slovakia's Milos Kelemen scored in the extra frame.
MORE FROM WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP DAY 4
• Jesse Puljujarvi and Valtteri Puustinen were both scoreless in Finland's 4-1 win over Norway. Puljujarvi recorded four shots and a plus-1 rating in 14:57, and Puustinen had two shots and an even plus/minus in 18:14.
• Erik Karlsson and Marcus Pettersson each scored in Sweden's 6-1 win over Germany. Karlsson opened the scoring 2:54 into the game:
🚨Erik Karlsson gets things started for Sweden! 🙌#GERSWE#MensWorlds@Trekronorse pic.twitter.com/Fvl1wF5hjy
— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) May 13, 2024
Pettersson doubled Sweden's lead 12 minutes later with his first goal of the tournament:
💥“Ota koppi”💥
Marcus Pettersson latasi suhteellisen tylyn tällin ohi Philipp Grubauerin.#Ihankaikki #ViaplayMMlätkä #MMkisat pic.twitter.com/1zeq5OfJtm— Viaplay Urheilu (@ViaplayUrheilu) May 13, 2024
Karlsson also recorded the primary assist on Sweden's sixth goal. He had two shots on goal and was a plus-1 in 21:06. Pettersson had four shots and was a plus-1 in 14:59.
• There are two games involving Penguins players on Tuesday:
10:20 a.m.: Kazakhstan vs. Latvia, with Penguins forward prospect Raivis Ansons on Latvia.
2:20 p.m.: Canada vs. Austria, with Michael Bunting on Canada and Kyle Dubas the associate general manager, and minor-league defenseman Thimo Nickl on Austria.
