Flyers winger Oskar Lindblom having fun right now | On the Fly

The Flyers are 3-1, but the headline is that they have just as many injuries as victories.

First it was Sean Couturier. Then Phil Myers and Morgan Frost. It could be a bumpy stretch as the Flyers on Thursday begin a stretch of six games in 11 nights. That doesn’t leave a whole lot of time for practice.

There’s also the power play, which has returned to its playoff form when it was as dormant as a hibernating bear. I swear they look like they’re playing in sneakers sometimes when they try to enter the offensive zone. But the Flyers have gotten six of a possible eight points through their first four games, and there’s plenty to be encouraged about, too.

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— Ed Barkowitz (flyers@inquirer.com)

It was a subtle play midway through the third period of Tuesday’s game against the Sabres that was just one example of why Flyers coaches rave about Oskar Lindblom.

The Flyers were tenuously holding a 1-0 lead when James van Riemsdyk turned it over at center ice. Faster than you can say “Gilbert Perreault,” the Sabres were on a counterattack that quickly became a 2-on-0 break on Flyers goalie Brian Elliott. Lindblom, however, back-checked his way into the Sabres’ charge and stripped Victor Olofsson before he could manage a shot.

Lindblom cleared the puck, and the danger subsided.

“He’s a smart player,” Travis Konecny said. “He does the right things, so you just try to get in and support him. He’s really good with his stick. As long as he’s in there and skating hard, he turns a lot of pucks over, so you’ve got to support him all over the ice. It’s been good to see him getting back and playing the way he’s played.”

Lindblom understands that at this point in his career he is the face of an inspiring story for his victory over Ewing’s sarcoma. He’s happy to talk about it if he thinks there is solace or comfort to be had for others.

His game, meanwhile, also is speaking volumes.

Lindblom was one of the Flyers’ best players when he went out of the lineup in December 2019 to deal with his cancer. Through a handful of games this season, he again is one of Alain Vigneault’s most reliable pieces.

“I’m getting 100%” out of him, the coach said, “100% in everything he does, whether it’s forecheck, back-check, in our zone or the right plays with the puck. The kid is all-in, and he’s giving us everything he has every shift. That’s what I expect from him, and that’s what I expect from all his teammates.”

He’s on a line that has the potential to be fun to watch for a long time. Lindblom, 24, has a lion’s spirit. Center Nolan Patrick, 22, has a sharp wit. And Konecny, 23, slices up opponents with his tongue as well as his stick. It remains to be seen if they’ll stay together in light of the injuries, but Lindblom sure hopes so.

“We all love each other on and off the ice. When we play together, we’re having fun,” Lindblom said. “All of us are growing into the game and trying to get better every day.”

Lindblom’s play on Olofsson on Tuesday night didn’t make the highlight reels, but his feathery pass earlier in the game did. Patrick won a battle low at the defensive goal line and shoveled the puck to Lindblom, who slid a cross-ice pass off the boards that Konecny skated into for a clean breakaway and the first goal of the Flyers’ 3-0 victory.

Konecny has been his usual pain in the hip pads early on this season, chirping more than a spring robin and chopping his stick more than a Washington logger.

“He’s good at getting under the skin of the opponent,” Lindblom said, laughing. “As long as he sticks to his game and can do that at the same time, it’s great for our team. We just get good energy from him, so it’s perfect for us.”

1. Flyers (3-1-0, 6 points): Hit the road for the first time this season, playing at Boston on Thursday and Saturday before heading to Jersey for two against the Devils.

2. Washington (2-0-2, 6 points): Alex Ovechkin, Evgeny Kuznetsov, Ilya Samsonov and Dmitry Orlov landed on the COVID list Wednesday, as the Capitals were fined $100,000 for violating protocols with “social interactions among team members who were in close contact and who were not wearing face coverings.” And on the same day Joe Biden issued a federal mask mandate. ... Host Buffalo on Friday and Sunday.

3. New Jersey (2-0-1, 5 points): Jack Hughes (2 goals, 4 assists) is the seventh Devil to record six points in the team’s first three games of a season. Taylor Hall and Patrik Elias are not on this list, but Mel Bridgman (1986-87) is. Yeah, THAT Mel Bridgman. ... Play at the Islanders on Thursday, host the Isles on Sunday.

4. N.Y. Islanders (2-1-0, 4 points): Semyon Varlamov became the 10th goalie since 1944 to register shutouts in his first two appearances of a season. The Flyers are the only team with two goalies who’ve done this: Bernie Parent (1973-74) and Jeff Hackett (2003-04). The only goalie ever to have shutouts in his first three appearances was Toronto’s Lorne Chabot in 1930-31. In 1935, Chabot became the first hockey player to be on the cover of Time magazine. ... The Isles host the Devils on Thursday, visit Jersey on Sunday.

5. Pittsburgh (2-2-0, 4 points): Beat Washington twice after opening the season with two losses to the Flyers. ... Defensemen Marcus Pettersson and Juuso Riikola left Tuesday game with upper-body injuries. The Pens managed to win the game despite having only four D-men in the third period and overtime. ... Host the Rangers on Friday and Sunday.

6. Boston (1-1-1, 3 points): David Pastrnak (hip surgery) practiced Wednesday in a noncontact jersey. He’s looking at returning by early February. ... The Bruins have scored three goals in three games, none 5-on-5 (two PP, one SHG).

7. N.Y. Rangers (1-2-0, 2 points): Mika Zibanejad had to leave Tuesday’s loss to the Devils after a skating mishap sent him sprawling into the boards. He did not practice Wednesday, but is not expected to miss time. ... Play at Pittsburgh on Friday and Sunday.

8. Buffalo (1-3-0, 2 points): Plenty of venom during their two-game series against the Flyers. They’ll play again up in Buffalo at the end of February. ... Next games are at Washington on Friday and Sunday.

South Jersey native Bobby Ryan on Tuesday became the first Red Wings player ever to score four goals in his first three appearances with the team. Detroit has been in the league for 94 years.

Thursday: Flyers at Boston, 7 p.m. (NBCSP)

Saturday: Flyers at Boston, 7 p.m. (NBCSP)

Tuesday: Flyers at New Jersey, 7 p.m. (NBCSP)

Thursday, Jan. 28: Flyers at New Jersey, 7 p.m. (NBCSP)

Saturday, Jan. 30: N.Y. Islanders at Flyers, 7 p.m. (NBCSP)

A play like this is very dangerous for a goaltender. Goalies wear a heavy set of pads, but they don’t have much protection from behind, because they’re always facing the puck. Being pushed over backwards like this can cause serious injury. The NHL should impose a two- or three-game suspension on [Brandon] Montour. — Inquirer.com user Lefty Grove on the play when Ivan Provorov crashed into Buffalo goalie Carter Hutton

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