It hasn’t been the steadiest of seasons for Flyers goaltender Samuel Ersson but in Saturday afternoon’s game at Anaheim, he demonstrated his potential.
Ersson was about as sharp as he’s been since coming off a long injury layoff and it resulted in a 3-1 win at the Honda Center.
Morgan Frost scored at 5:57 of the third period to break a 1-1 tie. He skated below the goal line, then bounced a puck off goalie Lukas Dostal’s stick. Ersson, along with the Flyers’ defense, took it from there. Joel Farabee scored into an empty net with 2:20 to play for the final margin.
Ersson was all over the place, making save after save in a hectic third period.
The Swedish netminder was pulled during Monday’s game at Pittsburgh after he allowed five goals in two periods in a 7-3 loss.
“I felt it was about time,” Ersson said in a televised interview. “You want to come back after getting pulled. You want to come back with a statement performance. I think that’s big for myself and for the team as well.”
Coach John Tortorella was pleased with the bounce-back.
“I think it’s one of his biggest strengths,” Tortorella said. “It’s his mental part of the game. He’s fighting to get back to his game. I thought he even looked better tonight. Made some key saves in the second period. I thought he played very well.”
In a see-saw second period, the Flyers scored first but Anaheim came back to earn a tie at the second intermission.
Noah Cates scored for the fifth straight game (the longest scoring streak of his career) at 4:03. Bobby Brink rushed down the right side, went behind the net and found Cates open in front. Cates’ shot eluded goaltender Lukas Dostal.
The Ducks bounced back at the 15:38 mark. Troy Terry sent a shot past Ersson from close range.
Some might say this has been the best stretch of hockey for Cates’ young career. The play of his line has something to do with that.
As for his goal, much of it had to do with good hustle, which has been a trademark of this line as of late.
“We get in on the forecheck, got one or two guys close,” Cates explained. “It makes it easy for each other.
“I’ve been playing good hockey for a while now. I’ve scored a couple goals, things have been going in for me lately. Keep playing the same way, keep playing smart. All that karma comes to you later on in the game, the season.”
Neither team could get on the scoreboard in the first period.
>Drysdale’s return
Flyers defenseman Jamie Drysdale, traded from the Ducks last season in exchange for former Philadelphia first-round pick Cutter Gauthier, made his return to the Honda Center.
Any jitters in those first 20 minutes?
“First period’s done, there wasn’t too much going on there,” Drysdale said in a televised interview at the first intermission.
Drysdale has been back nine games after missing 12 with injury. It looks like he’s starting to find his game again.
“Just using my legs to my advantage,” he said. “And just try and create more with the puck. It’s been better but still a lot of room to grow.”
>Line changes
The Flyers made some changes in their lines. Scott Laughton joined the first-line unit with Sean Couturier and Travis Konecny. Farabee was moved off the first line and joined the fourth.
>Michkov sits out third
Matvei Michkov sat out the third period. He hasn’t scored in nine games.
Tortorella explained why.
“It’s just been his energy,” the coach said. “Everything about his game right now. . .I think the schedule has kind of caught up with him. It’s going to happen. We’re asking so much of a 20-year-old. With the NHL schedule, you could see his game drop before the break. Just his skating, his energy, it’s just not there. We’re going to try to help him. If I have to take him out, in the big picture we just want to try to help him get his energy back.”
>Short shots
Travis Konecny played in his 600th NHL game and Bobby Brink played in his 100th. . .The Flyers get right back into action on Sunday when they visit the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday night. The Kings already have won the first half of the two-game season series with a win back in Philadelphia earlier this month.
