Photo Credit: NHL.com
Samuel Ersson struggled early in the season with momentum saves, that would eventually turn the page on the game in the Flyers favor. He was pretty solid in relief of Carter Hart at times, but he gave up another two goals that lead to the Buffalo Sabres winning the game 5-2 (One empty net goal) earlier in the season. Ersson was pretty impressive with his rebound control in the pre-season, and he made timely saves. He moves laterally from post to post well, and has donned a new goalie mask in the same token this season.
That was then and this is now, as Ersson has been spectacular for the Flyers between the pipes after the first month of the season. He’s making timely saves, and key saves in big moments to keep the Flyers engines going. Ersson continues to receive praise from Danny Briere and John Tortorella alike, even Briere saying last week he was capable of being a number one netminder.
For his efforts, both Connor Bedard and Ersson have made the All-Rookie All-Star team, as voted by NHL.com.
That was then, and this is now. Since then Ersson was on fire for about ten games, but in the last few games leading into the All-Star break he has had little help in front of him, thus dropping his Save Percentage below the .900 mark. For the season, Ersson is 12-9-3 with a 2.60 GAA, and a .898 Save Percentage. The Flyers are reaping the benefit of some awesome backup goaltending. Ersson time and time again gets the job done, “He just continues to get better, making key saves at key times. Goaltending has been good, it’s given us a chance every night for a while here. He came up with the extra save, and we found a way to get two points,” said John Tortorella earlier in the season.
The accolades are starting to come in, as Ersson has been voted was voted as one of the top goaltenders of the week by the NHL earlier this season, and now this accolade. Ersson deserves this, and congratulations on a job well done.
“He’s a number one, I believe that,” Briere said of Ersson last week at his mid-season presser. “At the same time we have to be careful. You don’t want to put too much pressure on him. He’s still young. He’s still developing and acquiring experience. This is a great opportunity for him to shoulder a lot of heavy load. We will see, but I do believe so.”
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