NUMBERS GAME: Flyers Send Undefeated Sam Ersson to Minors

After a shaky debut in Carolina, Sam Ersson rebounded and did everything possible to stay with the Philadelphia Flyers.

It wasn’t enough.

Despite compiling a 5-0 record, Ersson was sent to the Lehigh Valey Phantoms on Friday.

It had nothing to do with his performance — a 2.37 GAA and .918 save percentage in seven appearances.

It had everything to do with Ersson being waiver-exempt.

Ersson, 23, didn’t have to clear waivers to go to the AHL. So down he went.

Felix Sandstrom, on the other hand, needed to clear waivers to remain with Lehigh Valley after completing his conditioning stint with the Phantoms.

Hence, the Flyers recalled Sandstrom. They didn’t want to risking losing him to another team.

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The Flyers could have put three goalies on their roster, but one of them would have hardly played. This way, Ersson can remain sharp in Lehigh Valley.

Ersson is the third goaltender in the Philadelphia Flyers’ history to start his career 5-0. Only one Flyers goalie has ever won more consecutive decisions at the start of his career than Ersson: Bob Froese won his first eight in 1982-83.

Earlier this season, Ersson went 9-8-1 with a 2.72 GAA and .910 save percentage with the Phantoms. He was selected by the Flyers in the fifth round of the 2018 draft.

Sandstrom, 26, played well in his two-week conditioning stint. He compiled a 4-2-1 record with a 2.39 GAA, and .911 save percentage.

Sandstrom, Ersson, and Flyers starter Carter Hart, 24, make goaltending arguably the organization’s best position.

Breakaways

The Flyers did not practice Friday; they play in Detroit on Saturday night. … Philly is in a brutal stretch in which it plays five games in seven nights. … The Phantoms will have an outdoor practice Sunday at 11 a.m. at Spring Mountain in Schwenksville. It is free and open to the public. … Despite Thursday’s 4-1 loss to Chicago, the Flyers have won eight of their last 11 games. … Tony DeAngelo (Native Son Award) and Scott Laughton (Good Guy Award) will be among those honored at Monday;s 118th annual Philadelphia Sports Writers Association’s banquet in Cherry Hill. For ticket info, go to phillysportswriters.com.

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