Oskar Lindblom heard the sound of his Philadelphia Flyers teammates tapping the ice with their sticks as he went back to practice and understood– after months of fear and fight in his fight with bone cancer– he was home.
Lindblom turned 24 on Saturday, and a day later, he got rousing applause from the Flyers hours before they prepared for their championship game versus Montreal.
” Now Im here, and Im better than ever,” Lindblom stated Sunday.
A few hours later, Jakub Voracek scored his very first goal of the postseason, and Carter Hart made 23 saves en route to a nothing as the Flyers beat the Canadiens 1-0 to take a 2-1 series lead in the Eastern Conference first round.
” It was incredible to have Oskar back with us today, and we actually anticipate having him join us soon (on the ice),” Hart stated in his postgame schedule. “I believe that provided a bit of a trigger.”
A native of Gavle, Sweden, Lindblom was off to a profession season when he was detected in December with Ewings sarcoma, a tumor that grows in the bones or in the tissue around bones. He finished radiation treatments July 2 and weeks later signed a $9 million, three-year contract extension.
Lindblom said there was no timetable for a potential go back to the lineup– the NHL hiatus during the pandemic is the only factor a return this season was possible– and he wasnt going to rush back.
” I just feel like I require to be strong enough that I can put myself in a situation where Im excellent enough to play,” he said. Otherwise, Ill keep practicing and work myself back up.”
Lindblom had 11 objectives and 18 points in 30 games this season and proved a crucial part early in the Flyers resurgence as they earned the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference after the NHL reboot. Lindblom is a finalist for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, which is awarded each year by the NHL to the gamer who best embodies the qualities of determination, sportsmanship and commitment to the game.
” I believe he was real nervous, genuine thrilled to be back with the group,” Flyers coach Alain Vigneault said before Game 3. “The group was certainly ecstatic to have him back even though it was just an early morning skate. Hes a terrific young male, beautiful smile, delighted to have him around.”
Vigneault said Lindblom wishes to play and that as long as the Flyers keep winning, theres a chance of a comeback.
Lindblom got to ring the bell on July 2 at Abramson Cancer Center at Pennsylvania Hospital, which signified that he had completed his radiation treatments. Lindblom, his sweetheart and the nurses, all in masks, presented for pictures, and he provided the staff with his autographed No. 23 jersey. The Flyers wore #OskarStrong t-shirts under their jerseys this season, and fans brought indications of support to video games at the Wells Fargo.
” Its been whatever,” he stated. Those hard weeks when I felt so bad and attempting to believe about life, they call me or text me and help me get more energy.
He hung around with his sweetheart and family in Sweden and hung around in the needed quarantine duration after traveling to Toronto, where the NHL resumed the season. It was Lindbloms sweetheart, Alma Lindqvist, who encouraged him to get discomfort in his rib cage had a look at. He presumed it was simply a hockey injury– but months later on, hes a cancer survivor. And hes back on the ice with a team that has a chance to win the Stanley Cup.
“To be around the young boys, its the finest thing. I feel excellent,” Lindblom said.
” I believe he was real nervous, genuine excited to be back with the group,” Flyers coach Alain Vigneault stated prior to Game 3. Lindblom got to ring the bell on July 2 at Abramson Cancer Center at Pennsylvania Hospital, which symbolized that he had actually completed his radiation treatments. Lindblom, his sweetheart and the nurses, all in masks, positioned for photos, and he presented the personnel with his autographed No. 23 jersey. The Flyers used #OskarStrong shirts under their jerseys this season, and fans brought indications of support to games at the Wells Fargo.
It was Lindbloms sweetheart, Alma Lindqvist, who motivated him to get pain in his rib cage examined out.
