Penguins Recall Top Goalie Prospect Blomqvist

The Pittsburgh Penguins now list top goalie prospect Joel Blomqvist on the NHL roster, and team sources confirm he will be recalled before the Penguins face the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center Tuesday night.

The goalie situation stems from the virus which has infected several players in the locker room. Monday night, starter Tristan Jarry was a late scratch due to the illness and Alex Nedeljkovic made his fifth straight start in the Penguins 5-2 win over the New York Rangers.

New York emergency backup goalie (EBUG) Alex Fernandes was seated in the runway in full equipment and Penguins gear, presumably as Nedeljkovic’s backup. Jarry participated in warmups but was not seen in the runway when the players returned for the start of the game (backup goalies sit in the runway at Madison Square Garden).

On Tuesday afternoon, Blomqvist appeared on the Penguins’ NHL roster on the private NHL media page.

Blomqvist, 22, has posted a .919 save percentage and 2.15 goals-against average in 40 games with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in his first full season in North America.

He was the Penguins second-round pick (52nd overall) in the 2020 NHL draft.

It would be rare but not unprecedented for a goalie to play both ends of a back-to-back. Nedeljkovic stopped 28 of 30 shots in the win over New York. Coach Mike Sullivan will speak to the media at 5 p.m and Pittsburgh Hockey Now will update the story regarding Tuesday’s starter.

Blomqvist, 21, would be making his NHL debut if he started Tuesday against the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center.