The Philadelphia Flyers‘ 24-year-old forward Oskar Lindblom returns to the lineup on Thursday night for the first time since being diagnosed with bone cancer in December.
He’s in.
Welcome back, @oskarlindblom. pic.twitter.com/SeMbnLKzur
— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) September 3, 2020
Oskar Lindblom Returns To the Flyers’ Lineup
Lindblom battled with a rare form of bone cancer called Ewing’s sarcoma. After going through cancer treatment, he was cancer-free by early July and rang the symbolic bell to signal the end of his cancer treatments.
Fight. Inspire. Overcome. Celebrate.
Ring that bell, @oskarlindblom!@PennMedicine #OskarStrong pic.twitter.com/RM1PCxHnfY
— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) July 2, 2020
Lindblom was in the middle of a breakout season when he had to stop playing to focus on his treatments. In 30 games, Lindblom scored 11 goals and 18 points. The season prior, he scored 17 goals and 33 points in 81 games. The Flyers selected Lindblom 138th overall in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft. He was extended by the Flyers in July to a three-year deal worth three million dollars annually.
Philadelphia is trying to avoid elimination for the second straight game in their second-round series against the New York Islanders. Even though Lindblom hasn’t played in a game since December, he has been practising with the team through most of the postseason. Flyers head coach Alain Vigneault decided to put Lindblom in for a pivotal Game 6.
Lindblom’s Importance for Game 6
The Flyers were down 3-1 in their series to the Islanders and need to win three straight games to move on. Lindblom playing brings the Flyers tons of inspiration to go out and win Game 6, more than the natural inspiration caused by wanting to avoid elimination.
Lindblom should be ready to play. As mentioned, he has been practising with the team so the Flyers coaching staff should be well aware of where his game is at. If he wasn’t ready to play, he wouldn’t have entered the line-up. Outside of inspiration, the Flyers’ coaching staff must believe that Lindblom the hockey player can help win.
Main Photo:
Embed from Getty Images
