Penguins rookie forward Filip Hallander is better prepared for his next NHL game

Pittsburgh Penguins rookie forward Filip Hallander’s recall to the NHL roster Monday was a whole lot different than the last time he was summoned from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the AHL.

He went to Pittsburgh (or Cranberry, to be provincially accurate).

When the Penguins last recalled him under emergency conditions in April — a number of incumbents on the NHL roster were dealing with undisclosed illnesses — Hallander had to scramble and drive from Wilkes-Barre to New York to make his NHL debut in a 3-0 road loss to the Rangers at Madison Square Garden. He logged an uneventful 5 minutes, 52 seconds of ice time on 12 shifts in that contest.

He is expected to appear in his second career NHL game Wednesday in a road contest against the Washington Capitals.

This time, he’s much more prepared after having the benefit of a practice session with his teammates.

“That recall when I played a game was, obviously, a bit interesting with how it developed,” said Hallander, 22. “Just going straight from home (in Wilkes-Barre) to the game, all that stuff, not being able to prepare that good. Of course, having one more (training) camp under your belt helps. It’s good to be around all these guys. Trying to learn something every day and take that with you and put that in your toolbox to be a better hockey player.”

Hallander has been a pretty good player at the AHL level this season. Before Monday’s recall, he was that team’s leading scorer with nine points (four goals, five assists) in 10 games. During a 4-3 road loss to the rival Hershey Bears on Sunday, Hallander collected two goals and an assist.

A native of Sweden, Hallander suggested he is more comfortable with the North American game after adjusting to a new continent last season. And he largely credits the environment of the team’s overall success.

“I was probably building on last season,” Hallander said. “The first season, coming over, adjusting to everything. And ready to go from the start this year. We have a good team. We started off great before (this past weekend with) back-to-back losses to (the Hershey Bears). We were 6-0-1. Just playing great. Playing for a good team always helps out for your individual effort. I don’t know. Good teammates, good team.”

That led to him being a part of the team based in Pittsburgh.

“Filip has had a really good start to his season,” Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said. “He’s a very good penalty killer. That’s an important aspect. That’s a dimension of his game that we think he could help us. He has a lot of details associated with his game. He does a lot of little things that I think add up to winning. That’s what he’s done for (Wilkes-Barre/Scranton). He’s had a real good start to their season. He’s deserving of the recall.”

Primarily a top-six winger with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Hallander skated on the Pittsburgh Penguins’ fourth line in practice Tuesday. Manning the left wing, Hallander skated with Ryan Poehling at center and Josh Archibald at right wing.

Hallander acknowledged he won’t have the same offensive opportunities in that deployment. But he appears to relish the less glamorous duties typically associated with a fourth-liner.

“You always can do kind of the basic stuff,” Hallander said. “I take big pride in doing that. Hard work, wall battles, all that stuff, I think you can get very far in your career in being very good at that and being trustworthy in those areas. And the (penalty kill), you can have a pretty good NHL career in that. Of course, when you (play for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton), you get a bit more offensive chances. Just trying to work on that and develop a more all-around game. Up here, it’s being hard on the puck, being good on the wall, being good on the forecheck, and I try to be trustworthy when I’m on the ice.”

Note: Poehling returned to practice after missing Sunday’s practice due to an undisclosed illness. He participated in a full contact capacity along with forwards Teddy Blueger and Jeff Carter, each of whom has been hobbled in some fashion by undisclosed injuries.

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