Alex Nylander has gotten a pretty good view of the bucolic scenes Pennsylvania can offer in the spring.

After all, he has driven across the Keystone State plenty of times over the past month and change.

“It’s beautiful,” Nylander said. “I don’t need the GPS anymore.”

On Tuesday, the skilled winger was recalled by the Pittsburgh Penguins from the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the AHL under emergency conditions.

It marked the fifth time he has been summoned to the NHL roster over a span of 36 days.

With several incumbent members of the Penguins’ lineup hobbled since March 7, Nylander has made the trek across the Commonwealth frequently.

Perhaps the only thing that surpasses his mileage is his gratitude.

“It’s been a lot of driving back and forth,” Nylander said after an optional morning skate at PPG Paints Arena on Tuesday. “But I’m just happy to be back. We know what’s at stake here. We’ve got a huge two games here. I’ve just to keep going the way I’ve been playing and help this team win games.”

Nylander was in the lineup for Tuesday’s regular-season home finale against the Chicago Blackhawks, a virtual must-win for the Penguins’ playoff hopes. Given how often he has been shuffled between the NHL and AHL rosters, it’s far from a certainty that he’ll be present for the team’s regular-season finale Thursday at Columbus.

One way or another, he knows he has to be ready.

“(Management has) obviously, been talking to me and letting me know that this might happen,” Nylander said. “Just be aware and be ready. I’ve just always been on alert. When I get called up, I’ve got to be ready. Just really happy every time that I’m back up here. It shows that I’ve been doing things right. Just got to keep going.”

The right-handed Nylander has played in seven NHL games this season and had two points (one goal, one assist) before Tuesday. His goal came in Saturday’s 5-1 road win against the Detroit Red Wings. It was his first goal at the NHL level since he scored for the Blackhawks in a 6-2 home win against the San Jose Sharks on March 11, 2020.

“That was huge,” Nylander said. “It felt, obviously, really nice. I had a couple of chances in the games when I played before, and they didn’t go in. So, just really happy that went in. Obviously, just got to keep going and keep shooting the puck.”

While Nylander is happy with any recall he receives, making a semi-regular four-and-a-half-hour drive between Pittsburgh and Wilkes-Barre is anything but convenient.

“When players come up to play in the NHL, they’re excited to be here regardless of what the circumstances are,” Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said. “I don’t think Alex is any different in that. Obviously, the logistical challenges are what they are, and we all have to work through those. I know Alex is excited to be in the NHL. He’s excited to be part of the Pittsburgh Penguins. When he gets the call up, it’s certainly a welcome call that he receives. I know he’s excited to be here.”

Nylander hasshown the necessary drive to be in the NHL this season.

“I’ve been doing a lot of driving back and forth,” Nylander said. “A lot of miles in the car. But it’s fine. Getting used to the drive.”

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