VOORHEES, N.J. – It might be one of the toughest jobs in hockey and the ironic thing is, it could involve exactly zero game action.
We’re talking about the backup goaltender position, a very tricky situation which requires being ready at all times just in case the starter, which in the Flyers’ case is Dan Vladar, might not be able to play.
Vladar suffered what appeared to be an arm injury late in the Flyers’ 5-2 win over Pittsburgh on Wednesday night at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia.
Although he finished the game, Vladar did not participate in Thursday’s practice at the Flyers Training Center.
Coach Rick Tocchet called it “more of a maintenance” day but beyond that no information was forthcoming. With the Flyers having Friday off, Vladar’s status for Game 4 on Saturday night probably won’t be revealed until that morning.
If Vladar can’t go, that means Sam Ersson will be called into duty and he says he’s ready.
The season began with Ersson actually being considered the No. 1 netminder but by the end of training camp he had lost that title to Vladar.
To his credit, Ersson has kept himself ready for situations just like this. At one point in late March he won four straight decisions and finished up with six victories in his last nine starts.
“I think the (coaching) staff has done a good job giving us the information to take in,” said Ersson, who finished with a commendable above .500 mark for the regular season. “But at the same time, you don’t want to get too overly involved with all that information
“You have to be ready at all times. I think that’s something you work on. Keep your game in a good spot. So when your name is called you’re ready to go”
Ersson finished up with a 14-11-5 mark and got his goals-against average down to an almost respectable 3.12.
“I think we’ve been playing very well,” said Ersson of the team’s record (18 wins in last 25 regular-season games plus three straight victories over the Penguins). “I think we’ve been playing very disciplined.
“Obviously with the game here at home, in front of our fans, it’s a pretty cool experience.”
That stretch drive in March and April showed a lot about Ersson’s character. As a former No. 1 who lost that billing, he had to let that settle into his ego and take it the right way.
“I knew I had to take a step out from how I was play and just contribute,” Ersson said. “Every point in that stretch mattered, so it was good.
“I feel like I’m in a good spot with my game. It helps stringing some wins together. It makes you feel better and better about your game.”
>Thoughts on Ristolainen
Coach Rick Tocchet shared some thoughts on defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen, who was rumored to be on the block at the March 6 NHL trade deadline. Fortunately for him and the Flyers, it didn’t happen.
Ristolainen scored a big goal in Wednesday night’s Game 3 win over the Penguins and has played some of his best hockey since the Winter Olympics break.
“We had some conversations,” Tocchet said. “I wasn’t around here (for his first four years). All I know is the ‘Risto’ I know. He was hurt, we finally get him and man, we’ve got a 6-foot-4 guy who can skate and has got a great shot.
“That helped our game plan. Put him with ‘Sanny’ (Travis Sanheim). I don’t how close these trades were. But sometimes the best trades are the ones you don’t make. The proof’s in the pudding. He’s been a monster for us. Been playing great. Played some tough minutes out there.”
>Bump, Michkov status
So far, rookie Alex Bump has not played in the series and Matvei Michkov has had a slightly reduced role. Any changes planned or is it “if it’s not broken, don’t fix it?”
“I think every game is different,” Tocchet said. “You try to reset. But there’s a certain time we need to see action. Your number might be called at any time. Also, when you reset, you have to see improvement, too.”
>Closeouts are tough
They say the closeout games are always the toughest. The Flyers will face that challenge on Saturday against a desperate Pittsburgh team.
“It’s (the Penguins’) experience,” Tocchet said. “They’ve been down before. It’s not a group that’s (going to surrender). You’re going to have to stick a fork in ‘em.” Teams have come back from 3-0. So it can happen. I don’t see any of our guys going down Broad Street celebratin’.”
By the way, the Flyers have not swept an opponent since they knocked off the New York Rangers, 4-0, back in the 1995 playoffs. So a sweep doesn’t exactly happen that often.
In the NHL, teams have rallied only four times from an 0-3 deficit: The 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs (vs. the Detroit Red Wings), the 1975 New York Islanders (against the Pittsburgh Penguins), the 2010 Flyers (against the Boston Bruins) and the 2014 Los Angeles Kings (against the San Jose Sharks).
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