Goaltending prospect Filip Lindberg found 'the right spot' with the Penguins

Filip Lindberg almost missed his chance to play in Pittsburgh.

Not with the Penguins, at least not at this juncture in the story.

But certainly at PPG Paints Arena.

In April.

For the NCAA championship.

Having helped lead Massachusetts to the tournament and the celebrated Frozen Four, Lindberg, a springy goaltender, was unable to play in the semifinal against Minnesota-Duluth after he and a handful of teammates were placed in quarantine because of their school’s protocols for covid-19.

Lindberg watched from a hotel room in Amherst, Mass., as platoon-mate Matt Murray — no, not the former Penguins goaltender — directed Massachusetts to a thrilling 3-2 overtime win April 8.

After clearing the protocols, Lindberg and his fellow quarantiners parachuted into Pittsburgh the next day.

Roughly 24 hours later, Lindberg was a national champion after making 25 saves in a 5-0 shutout of St. Cloud State.

“That was a crazy week,” Lindberg said. “I was quarantining for 10 days. Didn’t really get a chance to practice or anything during those days. I was stuck at the hotel. It didn’t matter, I was focused. … That happened. I’m just lucky and thankful (to play) in the (championship) game.”

Roughly five months after that triumph, Lindberg remains in Pittsburgh, now as a member of the Penguins.

Opting to leave school after his junior season, Lindberg signed a two-year entry-level contract with the team.

“I was at (Massachusetts) for three years,” Lindberg said. “I felt like it was a good three years. I got better. We had a great amount of success at (Massachusetts). We had a good team. I just felt like, for me, I wanted to move forward for my career. I’m happy that I did. I’m grateful to be here.”

Lindberg took an unusual path here. Europeans with legitimate hopes to reach the NHL don’t typically go through United States colleges.

A native of Espoo, Finland, Lindberg suggested that has changed in recent years.

“I feel it’s a boom right now,” he said. “A lot of Europeans, especially Finnish and Swedish players, like to go (Division I). It’s a good path because you get your education at the same time. It’s a good league. You’ve got all the opportunities to move forward.”

Lindberg had an opportunity to turn pro in 2019 after being drafted by the Minnesota Wild in the seventh round (No. 197 overall) but never signed with that organization. He cited a lack of preparedness.

“I just wanted to be ready,” Lindberg said. “I felt like three years, four years is a good amount of time. You don’t want to rush into anything and not be ready. I felt like three years was a good time for me to get better and be good enough to move forward.”

Lindberg will take his first steps as a professional with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the American Hockey League or the Wheeling Nailers of the ECHL.

The adjustments to the professional game are profound for college goaltenders.

“The release points and how quickly shooters release pucks and change angles and show deception I think is an adjustment for anybody coming into the pro level,” said Penguins director of player development Scott Young, a 40-goal scorer during his NHL career. “You can see that in practice. Sometimes, they have to adjust to a little bit more deception. A good shooter in the NHL shows deception almost every shot. That’s something I think they have to adjust to since they don’t see it as much in college.”

At 6-foot and 180 pounds, Lindberg relies on his agility more than his size to stop the puck.

“I’d say I’m pretty quick,” Lindberg said. “I like to be aggressive. I’m not the biggest guy. I feel like I know what to do in the right situation.”

At the dawn of his professional career, he seems to have situated himself in a pretty good spot in Pittsburgh.

“I just felt it was a good place for me,” Lindberg said. “It’s a great organization. It’s just the right spot for me, I’d say.”

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