Why Alex Nedeljkovic still feels he has something to prove to Detroit Red Wings

RALEIGH, N.C. — Alex Nedeljkovic is finishing this season the way he began it: Feeling like he has something to prove.

The Detroit Red Wings goalie enters the season’s final two weeks coming off a restorative 46-save shutout against one of the NHL’s elite teams, with bonus satisfaction from it coming against his former team. The Carolina Hurricanes are where Nedeljkovic and the Wings would like to be — in the playoffs — but that doesn’t diminish Thursday’s 3-0 victory.

“It’s a learning process,” Nedeljkovic said. “We had high expectations for ourselves. If you’re (not) setting high goals, you’re not doing yourself any favors. Our goal was to make the playoffs and to be a competitive team, and we fell short of that goal. But there’s still a lot to prove. Every day you come to the rink, you have something to prove, whether it’s to yourself, your teammates, the coaching staff, the general manager — whoever. You never know who’s watching.”

General manager Steve Yzerman was watching Thursday from the press box at PNC Arena. He stamped the move to acquire Nedeljkovic last summer, and then signed him for two years at $3 million a season.

FUTURE FORECAST: Wings shake off playoff race elimination, say there’s ‘zero doubt’ team is improving

SUNNY FORECAST: How Oskar Sundqvist, Jake Walman earned time on Detroit Red Wings’ power play

The victory improved Nedeljkovic to 19-21-9 with three shutouts, a 3.27 goals-against average and a .903 save percentage. He has started 48 games and appeared in 54, more than was tentatively planned before the season.

“But it’s the way it’s worked out because of injuries and play and a lot of different factors,” coach Jeff Blashill said.

The Wings’ other goalie to start the season, Thomas Greiss, struggled, and then he…