Less than a year since bone cancer diagnosis, Oskar Lindblom returns to the ice in NHL playoffs

Less than a year after having to put his hockey career on hold due to a cancer diagnosis, Oskar Lindblom made his return to the ice on Thursday.

The Philadelphia Flyers wing played in his first game since learning he has Ewing’s sarcoma, a rare type of bone cancer, in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference second round. Both the Flyers and New York Islanders made sure to identify the moment as he entered the game.

Lindblom learned of the cancer in Dec. 2019, with the Flyers publicly pledging their full support.

In the time since his diagnosis, the Flyers have rallied around Lindblom as he underwent chemotherapy and other cancer treatments. #OskarStrong became a frequent mantra around the team, which gave Lindblom a three-year contract extension in the summer.

Lindblom finished his chemotherapy in July, but was already back on the ice.

Prior to his diagnosis, the 24-year-old Lindblom had posted 30 goals and 27 assists across three seasons and 134 games.

In a normal season, Lindblom would never have had a chance to return for the playoffs, but this is obviously not a normal season. The delay of the NHL playoffs gave Lindblom extra months to recover, and that eventually paid off with a powerful moment for the team and the rest of hockey.

More from Yahoo Sports:

• Goodwill: Clock on Bucks’ season, Giannis’s free agency is ticking

• In surprise move, Nets hire Hall of Fame PG Nash as new coach

• The Rock announces he and his family caught the coronavirus

• Brown: Why late Mets legend Seaver was only poster on my wall