Sharks’ Nedeljkovic Tapped to Start Against Flyers Amid Askarov’s Illness

San Jose Sharks goalie Alex Nedeljkovic will take the net against the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday, as teammate Yaroslav Askarov is sidelined due to illness. Coach Ryan Warsofsky indicated that Askarov is expected to serve as a backup for Nedeljkovic during this crucial game, which marks the Sharks’ third outing of a five-game road trip.

Nedeljkovic’s recent performance has bolstered his confidence. He recorded 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 also represented Nedeljkovic’s first since November 7, when he turned away 32 of 33 shots in a narrow 2-1 win against the Winnipeg Jets. Prior to the victory in Raleigh, he had struggled, going 0-3-0 with a save percentage of .870 over his last five appearances.

“Happy that I put us in a position to win, honestly,” Nedeljkovic said following Sunday’s 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 there. 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.”

This matchup against the Flyers will be significant, as it is the first time this season that Nedeljkovic will start consecutive games for the Sharks, who currently hold a record of 14-13-3. Askarov, who had begun to solidify his role as the team’s number one goalie, boasts a record of 9-4-0 with a save percentage of .928 over 13 games since the beginning of November. His performance has been instrumental in helping the Sharks re-enter the playoff race.

Nedeljkovic’s last stint of consecutive starts occurred on March 4 and March 7 of the previous season, when he played two road games for the Pittsburgh Penguins against the Colorado Avalanche and the Vegas Golden Knights.

Askarov’s most recent start took place on Friday, where he allowed three goals on 23 shots in the Sharks’ 4-1 loss to the Dallas Stars. As the Sharks prepare for Tuesday’s game, they currently occupy the second and final wild card spot in the Western Conference, based on points percentage of .517. The Flyers, meanwhile, have shown resilience with four wins in their last six games, sitting sixth in the Metropolitan Division with 33 points, just one point shy of a playoff position.

This upcoming matchup promises to be pivotal for both teams as they navigate their respective playoff aspirations.