PHILADELPHIA – It had been a week and still there was no sign of the two players acquired in a big trade with the Calgary Flames.
But fear not, on Thursday night both Andrei Kuzmenko and Jakob Pelletier finally cleared U.S. customs and should be ready for Saturday night’s home game against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Kuzmenko and Pelletier arrived during the game at the Wells Fargo Center and sat in the management box with some of the Flyers’ top officials.
The Flyers are hoping to get big things from their new players, who came here in exchange for Morgan Frost and Joel Farabee.
Thursday night’s game against Washington marked the third game the Flyers have been without Kuzmenko and Pelletier. They were blanked at Colorado, 2-0, on Sunday, then dropped a 3-2 overtime decision at Utah on Tuesday.
At Thursday morning’s skate at the Flyers Training Center in Voorhees, N.J., coach John Tortorella said he has been in contact with Pelletier.
“I spoke to him once,” Tortorella said. “His (Kuzmenko’s) phone is not taking calls. I talked to the coach (Ryan Huska) and I gave him information on ‘Frosty’ and ‘Beezer.’ I’ve heard things about both (ex-Calgary players).
“I want a face-to-face. You make that initial call just to welcome them to the organization. I’m not a text guy, I’m not a phone guy. I’d rather do it face-to-face. I just want to get them here.”
Heading into Thursday night action, Frost and Farabee had already played three games and each had scored a goal. The Flames are five games over .500 and right in the hunt with Vancouver for the last playoff spot in the Western Conference.
The Flyers would like to get a look at their new guys as soon as possible.
>4 Nations tournament approaching
The first game in the new 4 Nations Face-off tournament is less than a week away and Tortorella, who will be an assistant to head coach Mike Sullivan for Team USA, is looking forward to the competition to be held in Boston and Montreal.
“It’s certainly an honor,” Tortorella said. “To see some of the best players in the world, it’s exciting. It’s tough to see some of these players falling out because of injuries.
“I’m anxious to see what the concept looks like, playing four games. It’s really a hard time of the year, the ‘dog days,’ and then you come in with this tournament. It’s just the competition of the best on the best. I’m anxious to see how it works out.”
>High praise for Ersson
Flyers goaltender Samuel Ersson played one of the best games of his short career in Tuesday night’ 3-2 overtime loss at Utah.
Tortorella said it was not only one of finest performances he’s seen from Ersson but one of the top efforts for any goaltender he’s coached.
“It’s just the steady progression of his game,” said Tortorella. “That’s why I want him to leave here with a good performance on Saturday (before he leaves to play for Sweden in the 4 Nations tournament). So he can feel that good about himself.”
While the Flyers entered Thursday night two games under .500, Ersson sports a 15-10-3 mark.
“Some of the problems we’ve had with our goaltending throughout the year, Sam has steadily gone about his business,” Tortorella said. “You can see where his numbers have gone.
“That game against Utah, it’s one of the best games I’ve seen a goaltender play.”
