NEWARK, N.J. – Any questions about Flyer goaltender Samuel Ersson’s progress were pretty much answered on Wednesday when he was named to Team Sweden’s roster for the 4 Nations Face-off Tournament next month.
Prior to Wednesday night’s game at the Prudential Center, Ersson had improved his numbers to a won-loss record of 15-8-2 with a 2.77 goals-against average and an .893 save percentage (which is getting close to .900, the generally accepted number for respectable netminder play).
The other Philadelphia players in the tournament include Team Canada’s Travis Sanheim and Travis Konecny along with Finland’s Rasmus Ristolainen.
Coach John Tortorella, who will be an assistant coach for Team USA in the tournament, indicated he was pleased to learn of Ersson’s selection.
“I’m happy for all our guys,” Tortorella said. “Those situations are really cool for the players.”
Most of the Flyers will get a 10-day break in their demanding NHL schedule but the four players in the tournament won’t have much time off.
“I would like to see my guys get some rest,” Tortorella said. “But playing for your country trumps everything.”
>Charting Brink’s progress
Bobby Brink’s play has picked up of late, not that before he wasn’t contributing to the Noah Cates’ line, which includes Tyson Foerster. But now Brink is getting rewarded on the offensive side of the stat sheet with three goals in his last seven games prior to Wednesday night action.
“Well, you can see how I’m using him,” Tortorella said. “Bobby was in and out of the lineup, didn’t understand how to defend, didn’t understand the other side of the puck.
“He has put a lot of time into his conditioning, his awareness of how to be a pro, what it is to be a pro. I think he’s made tremendous strides.”
>Michkov still learning
Rookie Matvei Michkov has already made his mark in the NHL with 14 goals/34 points just a couple weeks past the season’s midpoint. But his overall game still needs some work.
“It’s puck management, it’s a lot for him right now,” Tortorella said. “He’s been inconsistent. We expect it. In the third period (of Monday night’s game vs. New Jersey), you saw the three players I sat. He was one of them. It’s part of the process for him to understand. He’s working at that part of the game, away from the puck.”
>Hathaway’s important role
Garnet Hathaway is one of those players who can beat you with his hockey skills and his physical presence skills. That’s what makes his role so vital for a team like the Flyers, which has been without enforcer Nick Deslauriers for the past few months.
Hathaway’s leadership ability also helps coaches keep players accountable.
“We met yesterday about a couple things,” Tortorella said. “He’s a very important guy in the stage we are in as a team, to teach our kids. . .he’s trusted, he’s been through it all. He plays a role on our team that is needed.”
He might only have seven goals/17 points in 51 games but it’s his plus-4 on a team that’s a double-digit minus number which really stands out.
“He’s the foundation, the guy that’s going to do all the dirty stuff,” Tortorella said. “He’s been really good, seven goals now. I put him in situations like the third period; he’s depended upon for a lot of different things which you need to have to win a hockey game, not just goals and assists.”
