Flyers Make 3 Roster Moves

The Philadelphia Flyers made three roster moves Monday, including the promotions of goalie Sam Ersson and winger Kieffer Bellows from the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.

In addition, general manager Chuck Fletcher announced that winger Zack MacEwen, who is sidelined with a fractured jaw, was placed on Injured Reserve.

Fletcher said goalies Carter Hart and Felix Sandstrom are healthy. Ersson was recalled, he said, because the Flyers want to carry three goalies on their upcoming road trip to Seattle, Vancouver, Calgary, and Edmonton.

It probably means that Ersson will start one of the back-to-back games at the end of the trip. Ersson is 5-0 with a 2.37 GAA and .918 save percentage in six appearances with the Flyers. He has played much better than Sandstrom (1-8-1, 3.52. .880), 26, who has been used primarily in the back end of consecutive games.

Ersson, 23, had his first NHL shutout as he blanked the host Buffalo Sabres, 4-0, on Jan. 9. On Saturday, he notched his initial AHL shutout, making 15 saves in a 3-0 win over Bridgeport.

With the Phantoms, he is 15-10-1 with a 2.58 GAA and .911 save percentage.

Bellows, 24, has three goals and 10 points in 12 games with Lehigh Valley. He has one goal in 15 games with the Philadelphia Flyers, who next play Thursday in Seattle.

The Flyers will try to avenge Sunday’s 4-3 home loss to Dave Hakstol’s Kraken. Sandstrom was the loser in that game.

Breakaways

Seattle plays in Winnipeg on Tuesday. … Thursday’s game is on NBC Sports Philadelphia. … Hart has a 2.78 GAA and a .913 save percentage. … Ersson is the third goaltender in the Philadelphia Flyers’ history to start 5-0 in his career. Only one Flyers goalie has won more consecutive games at the beginning of his career: Bob Froese won won his first eight decisions in 1982-83.

PHN: Flyers Have Done an Injustice to This Player