PHILADELPHIA – Sooner or later, one of those shots is going to go in for Oskar Lindblom.
But the waiting is the hardest part.
The rookie has fired 15 shots in his 11 games with the Flyers and has absolutely no points to show for it.
That includes a golden chance in the second period of Monday night’s 3-2 loss to Vegas at the Wells Fargo Center.
To his credit, Lindblom has continued to play with some jump in his step and doesn’t sound like he’s lost any confidence since being called up from the Phantoms.
If he keeps playing this way, his luck will change.
“I’m getting chances I just have to keep going here,’’ he said. “Not trying to be too negative.
“I think it’s mostly me putting pressure on myself to try to get a goal here, but I know it’s hopefully going to come.’’
Lindblom had Marc-Andre Fleury all lined up in the second period but the goalie got the best of him.
“I didn’t really expect it, then I saw the puck hanging there, trying to get it away as fast as possible,’’ he said. “I thought it went in, but it didn’t, so just have to keep going.’’
The way these slumps usually end is with a shot going in off a knee or a hip. Luck has a way of going two ways.
“Yeah, it’s probably going to be one of those,’’ he said, “where it just bounces and goes in, but I’m getting chances, I feel like I’m playing good so I just have to stay positive here and keep going.’’
Lindblom played on a line with Wayne Simmonds and Nolan Patrick on Monday night, so it’s not like he’s mucking it up with a fourth-line checking unit.
“Hopefully it’s going to come,’’ he said. “I just have to keep going hard to the net.’’
Bellemare’s return
Ex-Flyer Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, lost to Vegas in the expansion draft, made a triumphant return to Philadelphia by assisting on the Golden Knights’ winning goal.
Bellemare received a nice reception from the fans when he was announced in the starting lineup.
“I had a good time,’’ Bellemare said of his stay with the Flyers. “I came here as a 29-year-old rookie and they took a shot on me. I had fun every single day. It was not hard to come everyday and talk a little bit to everybody around the rink. They gave it back to me so much more so it’s a special building.”
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