Filip Lindberg Looking to Win Big Again in Pittsburgh

Just over five months ago at PPG Paints Arena, Filip Lindberg watched from the net as the time ticked down and the University of Massachusetts was crowned NCAA national champions. He turned aside 25 shots as the Minutemen skated to a 5-0 victory over St. Cloud State in the Frozen Four title game.

Now, after signing a two-year entry-level contract as a free agent with the Penguins, the Finnish goaltender is looking to win big again in Pittsburgh - this time, as a member of the team that calls PPG Paints Arena home.
"It's a good place for me," Lindberg said. "It's a great organization and the right spot for me."
Lindberg, 22, is turning pro this fall after turning in three spectacular seasons as a member of the Minutemen. He posted a 1.55 goals-against average and .937 save percentage for his career to go along with 11 shutouts.
"I was at UMass for three years, and it was a good three years," Lindberg said. "I got better and we had a great amount of success there. We had a good team. I felt like I wanted to move forward with my career. I'm happy I did and I wish those guys luck this season, I'm grateful to be here."
After being initially drafted in the seventh round (197th overall) of the 2019 NHL Draft by the Minnesota Wild, Lindberg opted to forego signing with the club, instead committing to UMass.
"I wanted to be ready," he said. "Three to four years is a good amount of time, and you don't want to rush anything and not be ready. Three years was a good enough time for me to get better and move forward. A lot of European players, especially Swedish and Finnish, like to go D1. It's a good path because you get your education at the same time and it's a good league, and you have all the opportunities to move forward if you're good in that league."
And Lindberg was excellent, breaking several school records in the process, some of which were set by Los Angeles Kings goalie Jonathan Quick. His junior campaign saw him notch a personal-best 1.24 goals-against average and a .949 save percentage to go along with a 10-1-4 record in 15 games.
He was pressed into service in the Frozen Four championship game during what he called a "crazy week," taking the crease for the first time in nearly a month after not even being able to practice during his ten-day quarantine upon arriving in the Frozen Four bubble in Pittsburgh.
"All of that didn't matter, though," said Lindberg, who went 3-0 with a 0.33 goals-against average, a .986 save percentage and two shutouts in the tournament. "I was focused. All three of the goalies I was with at the hotel were focused and we were ready to play when we got the chance. I'm just lucky and thankful that I got the chance to play in the final game."
Now, Lindberg is in another competition for playing time amongst the other netminders here in Pittsburgh as he looks to earn a starting role.
"I feel like there's always a battle wherever you are between the goalies," Lindberg said. "It doesn't mean you can't be really good friends outside the rink or within the rink too. Wherever you are, you need to push each other and be friends. That's a good setup for everyone."
Lindberg, a self-described quick goaltender who reads plays well, is shorter in stature at 6-foot-1 - so he looks up to another smaller netminder in the NHL, Nashville Predators goaltender Juuse Saros.
"He's not the biggest guy either, but knows what to do," Lindberg said. "He's super fast and aggressive, and that's a good way to play for guys like us."
It's a mentality that should serve Lindberg well as he looks to take that next step in his career.
"You can't let your guard down," Wilkes-Barre/Scranton head coach J.D. Forrest said. "There's dangerous players all over the ice. If you're not aware of where they are on the ice, you might get punished for it. That read and react and the ability to adjust to the shot - it's more the release than the speed - and just the deception that some of the shooters use that he's not used to seeing in college. But he's looked great in camp. Our goalies have been phenomenal all week."
And Lindberg is looking forward to carrying that over into training camp later this week.
"I'm just going to have fun and go all in, do the best I can," Lindberg said during Rookie Camp. "I want to enjoy hockey and get better out there."