Flyers hoping refreshed Oskar Lindblom and Nolan Patrick can contribute during stretch drive

The Flyers are hoping some rest will benefit Oskar Lindblom and Nolan Patrick for the stretch run. Both have had draining years and, after sitting out Wednesday’s 6-1 loss in Buffalo, will return to the lineup Saturday night against the host New York Islanders.

The forwards were off the ice for nearly 72 hours before taking part in Friday’s practice in Voorhees.

“I’m hoping it was a time for them to get refreshed, mentally and physically, and they’ll be able to help us for the final push for the playoffs – and they’ll be good contributors for us,” coach Alain Vigneault said after Friday’s practice.

After health scares last season, Lindblom and Patrick have made great strides just being back on the ice this year.

During last season, Lindblom battled a rare bone cancer, underwent chemotherapy and had some ribs removed. He played in 30 games before the diagnosis, missed the rest of the regular season, and then inspired his team – and the entire NHL – as he returned to play in two playoff games.

Patrick missed all of last season because of a migraine disorder.

Both returned to the lineup this year with a shortened training camp and no exhibition games. Making their comebacks even more challenging was the fact teams are playing a condensed schedule, one that saw the Flyers play 17 games in March.

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The forwards were healthy scratches Wednesday, and the team did not practice Thursday.

Vigneault said the compacted schedule has made it draining for players on all teams, “especially when you have two players who have gone through what Oskar and Patty have gone through. It’s more challenging in their case. Hopefully this little breather will benefit them and benefit our team moving forward.”

Vigneault said he wanted to give the players a “reset,” wanted them to have more energy as the Flyers start a six-games-in-nine-days stretch Saturday against the Islanders.

Both players have not reached their past level of play, but both have shown hints recently that they are getting back to their old selves.

Lindblom, 24, has five goals, 10 points, and a minus-9 rating in 30 games. Before struggling a bit in his last four games, he had three goals in a three-game stretch and played his best hockey of the season, getting more physical in front of the net and even trying to wake up his team by getting in a fight against Oliver Wahlstrom in a 6-1 loss to the Islanders on March 20.

The Sweden native said the break was good for him.

“I guess mostly mentally,” Lindblom said. “Just to get off the ice and relax and recover. That’s important and that’s been a part I’ve been working on all season. I mean, with all I went through and a short time to get back to play in the best league in the world, I take every day I can and recover the best I can.”

Lindblom said his energy “goes up and down. You can feel great one day and the other day you feel like you haven’t played hockey for a while. You just have to battle through and try to be strong mentally and do your work every day, and hopefully you feel good. That’s the only thing I can do. Try to recover as well as I can and be on top of my game.”

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Patrick, 22, the second overall selection in the 2017 draft, has seven points (4 goals, 3 assists) and a minus-20 rating in 34 games. Like Lindblom, he has shown glimpses of promise in recent games – creating several good scoring chances, though he hasn’t been able to finish many.

He said he hoped the reset would help him both mentally and physically.

With 21 games left, the Flyers are three points behind Boston, which has two games in hand, for the final East Division playoff spot.

“We need every single guy on our team to be on top (of his game) in the next 20 games or whatever it is we have left,” said Lindblom, who had 11 goals in 30 games before his cancer diagnosis last season. “We’ve got to push it, and we need everyone.”