“It’s a great day in hockey to see Oskar Lindblom back on the ice,” former Flyer Keith Jones — who’s part of the broadcast team for NBC Sports Philadelphia’s Flyers telecast — said on NBCSN. “And the fact he’s gonna play tonight is a miracle.”
Thursday night, Lindblom played his first game since Dec. 7, after fighting his way back from Ewing’s sarcoma, a rare bone cancer. When his season was suddenly halted last winter, he was tied for the team lead with 11 goals.
Lindblom’s comeback is so inspirational that it would have made headlines regardless of Thursday’s result.
“I started to think positive thoughts during the whole chemo, and I knew that I’m gonna play one day, but I didn’t know when,” Lindblom said. "So, today was the day, and I was lucky to be out there and be with these guys."
Oskar Lindblom after Thursday night's win: "I started to think positive thoughts during the whole chemo and I knew that I’m gonna play one day"#Flyers #OskarStrong pic.twitter.com/rQA2e798vq
— Dave Uram (@MrUram)
September 4, 2020 Fortunately for Lindblom and the Flyers, they won 5-4 in double-overtime to extend their postseason run for at least one more game — a decisive Game 7, to be played Saturday at 7:30 p.m., with a trip to the Eastern Conference Finals in Edmonton on the line.
“It’s hard to step into a playoff game — and especially one of these that we have to win — but try to grind it out. And lucky we came out with a win here,” Lindblom said.
His coach and teammates couldn’t have been more complimentary.
“I don’t think there’s anything that can describe how proud we all are of him and how much he means to this organization, to our team,” goalie Carter Hart said.
Carter Hart on Oskar Lindblom: "one of the guys said it’s like he never left"#Flyers #OskarStrong pic.twitter.com/QFdqnOtKqK
— Dave Uram (@MrUram)
September 4, 2020 “One of the guys said, ‘It’s like he never left.’”
Captain Claude Giroux, usually very serious in his postgame sessions, couldn’t help but break a smile beyond his bushy playoff beard.
“This kid has so much courage,” Giroux said. “He played unbelievable, too, and he hasn’t played since — I’m not even sure, but it’s been a long time.”
Claude Giroux on Oskar Lindblom: "That was a huge boost ... He played unbelievable too, and I mean he hasn’t played since I’m not even sure, but it’s been a long time."#Flyers #OskarStrong pic.twitter.com/CdhYxqN0iI
— Dave Uram (@MrUram)
September 4, 2020 Lindblom said they started talking about him playing a little bit on Wednesday, and Alain Vigneault said he spoke with him some more on Thursday morning.
“Doesn’t it say so much about the young man, that he gets cleared from cancer on July the 2nd; we start our camp on July 13; he goes back home for a couple of days,” Vigneault said. "And it just shows you about the young man and his will to help. And he comes back, he spends a couple days in quarantine and starts working out. And a month later, he’s helping his teammates win a Game 6 that’s given us a chance at a Game 7.”
"For him to wanna play, that just says so much about the young man."Alain Vigneault on Oskar Lindblom#Flyers #OskarStrong pic.twitter.com/8gx3t9EyCw
— Dave Uram (@MrUram)
September 4, 2020 “Obviously going into five periods I used him a little bit more than I anticipated,” Vigneault said, “but ... great young man that wanted to help his team, and he did.”
