The Penguins recalled Hayes earlier in the day from their AHL affiliate the Wilkes Bare/Scranton Penguins due to the unavailability of forwards Blake Lizotte (personal), Noel Acciari (illness) and Rickard Rakell (injury).
Hayes said only having eight hours between being called up and making his NHL debut was beneficial.
“It was pretty quick turnaround, but honestly it was probably a good thing because I didn’t have much time to think or stress about it, so I just got to go out there and play,” the rookie said in the Sportsnet Pittsburgh interview. “We drove in and I was ready to go. So, it was fun.”
This season Hayes has 23 points (13 goals, 10 assists) in 31 games with Wilkes Bare/Scranton.