Flyers’ Sam Ersson, Less Jittery This Time, Ready for 2nd NHL Start

By his own admission, Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Sam Ersson was (understandably) jittery when he made his NHL debut Friday in Carolina.

“I think going into my first game, there were a lot of emotions,” the usually composed Ersson said after practice Wednesday in Voorhees. “There were a lot of things involved in that game. Emotions definitely get to you.”

Besides being his debut, Ersson felt more pressure after allowing a goal on the Hurricanes’ first shot. Things didn’t get better over the first two periods as the Flyers’ defense gave him little support.

“I don’t think we played that well in front of him,” Flyers coach John Tortorella said. “I don’t think we helped him in his first start.”

Ersson, after being replaced by Carter Hart during the second period, returned a short time later because Hart was injured in a collision. Ersson stopped all eight shots he faced in the third period.

Shows his ‘character’

“It showed me a little bit about his character,” said Tortorella, whose team rallied from a 6-2 third-period deficit but lost, 6-5. “I think he has a good feel about himself, and the right type of swagger for a goalie to have. I’ve been wanting to see him play, anyway, and after a good third period that gives us a chance in that game, I want to put him back in there.”

Overall, Ersson stopped 25 of 30 shots in his debut.

On Thursday, Ersson, 23, will take a different attitude into the second game of his NHL career, facing the Sharks in San Jose.

“You get a feel for it. It’s just hockey,” Ersson said, adding he will put the emotions behind him Thursday and play his game. “I’ve played hockey for a long time and it doesn’t matter if it’s the NHL or AHL, the puck stays the same size and you just have to go out and play hard. I know I’m a good goalie.”

Added Ersson, who had a 2.72 GAA and .910 save percentage with the Phantoms before being recalled: “I want to be here with the big group. I mean, you can’t ask for a better opportunity.”

Felix Sandstrom, 25, a fellow Swede who has a 3.37 GAA and .888 save percentage, will be his backup tonight against the Sharks and former Philadelphia Flyers winger Oskar Lindblom (six points in 34 games).