While Dan Vladar has played a major role in the Flyers’ 3-0 lead over the Penguins in their best-of-seven playoff series, it doesn’t mean the team can’t win without him.
There’s a possibility Philadelphia’s No. 1 goalie won’t be fully recovered from injury when it faces Pittsburgh in Saturday night’s Game 4 at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
If Vladar can’t go (he was injured late in Game 3), they have faith in backup Sam Ersson.
Remember, Ersson was the team’s No. 1 netminder last season and only got bumped from that position because Vladar, who came over from Calgary in the offseason as a free agent, played so well right out of the gate.
The Flyers had Friday off from practice, so there really isn’t any way of knowing the status of Vladar’s availability.
Coach Rick Tocchet sort of dodged the issue in a media Zoom call on Friday morning by saying Vladar, who also missed Thursday’s practice, would benefit from a second straight day off.
“It’s another maintenance day for him,” Tocchet said. “Two days off is going to help him. We’ll see how he is tomorrow.”
Pressed on the subject, Tocchet talked about how his team might react if Ersson is forced into service.
“I don’t think it’s about the backup goalie,” Tocchet said. “Or the 13th forward or the 14th forward. Whatever the position, you have to be ready to play. And you prepare yourself every day physically, mentally.”
Ersson has never been involved in a Stanley Cup playoff game, so there’s no track record to indicate how he performs under this sort of pressure.
Preparation is particularly important in a situation like this. The players are familiar with Ersson’s style and work ethic so the adjustment should be fairly smooth if the Swede has to play.
“This is something, as a coach, you always talk about this sort of thing throughout the year,” Tocchet said. “Especially now. Whatever the positional player is, the person that’s next in line has to be ready. Because your number could be called at any time.”
>Disregarding scrums
From the looks of the first three games, the Penguins are the ones who are trying to stir things up. Tocchet likes the way his players have attempted to avoid confrontations, particularly when the score is tight.
Tocchet was asked if he believes his players handled the emotions of the late minutes of Game 3 well.
“I think for the most part we’ve done a good job talking about that this past month,” Tocchet said. “I think the guys have done a nice job. I’m not a big scrum guy. The narrative that we’re trying to slow the game down with these scrums, I don’t know if I see it that way.
“You want to hold your ground. But for me when it’s over, get out of there. The scrums, there are times and places for them. But we have to control our emotions. When the puck drops, play the game the right way.”
>Puck possession crucial
According to Tocchet, the Flyers did a better job of hanging onto pucks in Game 3, a decided improvement over Game 2.
“I spoke that we can improve on that again,” the coach said. “We’re better at it. It’s something that we always talk about. Like I’ve said, we have to stay out of the (penalty) box, can’t give that team five power plays (like they did in Game 3). We want to play five-on-five hockey and see where it goes.”
>Tough to complete a sweep
The Flyers haven’t swept an opponent in a best-of-seven playoff series since ousting the Rangers in four games way back in the 1995 Eastern Conference semifinals, so they know Game 4 won’t be a cakewalk.
Tocchet believes there’s pressure on both sides.
“You’re playing a team that’s desperate,” Tocchet said. “And will do anything to win. The team that’s up, do they get comfortable and lose their style (of play)?
“That can weigh both ways. So I think there’s a mental aspect to this whole thing. If you’re a team that’s up, can you stay hungry? Block out the noise, the ‘oh, what if. . .we win, we win the series.’ I think there’s a lot of mind games you play in your head. You can’t listen to the what ifs.”
>Short shots
Tocchet isn’t sure who will play in the No. 6 defense spot for Game 4. Noah Juulsen did a nice job filling in for the nicked-up Emil Andrae, who did practice on Thursday and came through it unscathed. . .If the Flyers wrap it up Saturday, their most likely opponent in the next round is Carolina. The top-seeded Hurricanes have also pushed Ottawa to the brink of elimination.
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