Sharks Shut out Golden Knights in Preseason Opener, Nedeljkovic Shines
SAN JOSE, CA – the San Jose Sharks defeated the Vegas golden Knights 2-0 in their preseason opener Sunday, highlighted by a 24-save shutout performance from goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic. The game, played in front of an eager crowd, offered a first look at the Sharks’ revamped roster and coaching staff under head coach Ryan Warsofsky.
The scoring began with a goal from henry Skinner, set up by a skillful play involving Will Smith and Ryan Dickinson. Smith fed Sharks’ top prospect Misa Celebrini, who then passed to Dickinson before Dickinson assisted Skinner. “I kind of got confused behind the net in our zone [as of the] penalty. The goalie was standing in a weird spot, so I didn’t know what was going on,” Dickinson explained. “But once I saw that, I figured I’d get up in the rush. then a really nice pass by Smitty.[The defender] went down, [so I just had to] get around him, and put the puck to the net.”
Nedeljkovic, making his unofficial Sharks debut, was a key factor in the victory, stopping a breakaway late in the third period to preserve the shutout. Warsofsky praised Nedeljkovic’s performance, stating, “Goalie was good. Ned was really good. [He was] tracking pucks well.” He also noted areas for advancement, adding, “There were some moments in the third period that we need to learn from. Some moments in our game management…those are things that we have to learn from and teach really quickly here.”
Warsofsky acknowledged Nedeljkovic “bailed his team out from time to time” during the contest. The Sharks’ goaltending tandem of Nedeljkovic and Yaroslav Askarov, both noted for their puck-handling abilities, could potentially rank among the top 10-15 in the NHL, provided they remain healthy. The team’s goaltending depth is currently a concern, lacking a clear third-string option for the AHL.
The Sharks will continue their preseason schedule Friday night, hosting the Golden Knights for a rematch.