Flyers preaching patience with Lindblom and Patrick

Oskar Lindblom and Nolan Patrick have overcome a lot to be able to play for the Flyers last season. Lindblom was diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma last December and was out the rest of the regular season. Patrick missed an entire year of hockey due to a migraine disorder.

So it is fair to expect that the two may not have their full game ready to go. There have been moments where they look good and moments where they have struggled. While that is a normal part of hockey, there is a bit of leeway when it comes to these two.

While Vigneault hasn’t necessarily shied away from their performance, he has preached patience with the two of them. Allowing them to find their game after they were both gone from the game for long periods of time. Lindblom did return in the playoffs, but it was only for two games. Patrick was participating in scrimmages over the summer, but they weren’t full contact.

“They’re working extremely hard on the ice, off the ice, in the video, with the coaches. They’re watching their shifts. But it’s a work in progress. There’s no doubt in my mind when you have two young men putting in the time and effort they are, it’s just a matter of time before they do find their game.”

And it looks like the Flyers are going to let them find their game together. They have reunited Lindblom and Patrick with Konecny for the second time this season.

Lindblom’s last point came against the Devils  on January 26th. He has averaged around 15 minutes of ice time in the last five games. He has been able to fire the puck on net more in recent games.

It is also not a surprise to see that Lindblom has been largely out chanced when on the ice. Among all Flyers to take the ice this season, he ranks 19th with a 40.76 CF%. The encouraging note is that of the five goals he has been on the ice for, he has been a part of four of them.

So when the offense does get going in the offensive zone, Lindblom has been able to generate either a goal or help set one up.

Patrick also registered a point in the same Devils game. His ice time has fluctuated between 14-16 minutes over the last stretch. Shots have come far and few between for Patrick. He has just three shots on net during the last five games. So he went shot-less in two of those.

His advanced stats are similar to those of Lindblom, at least when it comes to generating chances. He ranks slightly higher with a 44.35 CF%. Patrick, though, has been significantly better at controlling play when he is on the ice. And out of the seven goals he has been on the ice for, he has a point of five of those.

As Vigneault mentioned, it is going to take some time for the two of them to find their game again. There needs to be patience with the two of them especially. We are only 11 games into this shortened season. There are signs of improvement from the two and they aren’t totally lost on the ice out there.

The most encouraging thing from the two is that they have been able to take the ice and haven’t seemed to hit any setbacks, namely Patrick. Both have taken contact and while they may have gotten up slowly from some, nothing has knocked them out of the game.