5 Takeaways: Flyers Snap Skid as Sam Ersson Snuffs Flames

Rookie goaltender Sam Ersson was superb Monday afternoon, and Wade Allison scored the winning goal as the Philadelphia Flyers outlasted Calgary, 4-3, and snapped their four-game losing streak.

The visiting Flyers (23-25-10) got goals from Travis Konecny, who was later injured and had to leave the game, Nick Deslauriers, Tony DeAngelo, and Allison.

Allison (eighth goal) snapped a 3-3 tie by tapping in a goal-mouth feed from James van Riemsdyk with 8:27 left in regulation. It was the Flyers’ first shot in a Calgary dominated third period.

The Flames (26-20-11) overcame a 3-1 deficit by getting third-period goals from Tyler Toffoli and Andrew Mangiapane.

But an under-siege Ersson shut the door the rest of the way, and the Flyers won despite Calgary’s domination in shots (35-22) and shot attempts (83-36).

It was the definition of a gritty victory.

“We battled hard and found a way,” said defenseman Cam York after setting up a goal and recording a plus-3 rating.

Here are five quick observations:

1. Sam Ersson, making his first NHL start since Jan. 17, was again impressive.

The Sweden native turned aside 32 of 35 shots and became the second goaltender in franchise history to start his career with six consecutive wins. Bob Froese won his first eight decisions in 1982-83.

“Ever since he came up he’s been doing this,” Konecny said after the first period on NBC Sports Philadelphia. “So it’s no surprise today that he’s playing this way.”

Ersson, 23, set the tone early. He stopped all 12 shots he faced in the first period, when he made four Grade-A stops and was the Philadelphia Flyers’ best player.

He was just as impressive in the second, making a remarkable glove save on Mikael Backlund from the slot with 1:30 left in the period. That kept the Flyers ahead, 3-1.

Backlund scored earlier in the period, putting a close shot past a screened Ersson.

Ersson is the eighth goalie in NHL history to start his career with a 6-0 record.

Filth by TK. #PHIvsCGY | #FueledByPhilly pic.twitter.com/IJP13FjXLN

— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) February 20, 2023

2. Travis Konecny has regained his mojo.

The right winger, goal-less in 13 straight games before the road trip started, scored his third goal in the last three contests to give the Flyers a 1-0 lead with 3:01 left in the first.

Until that point, the Flames had numerous great chances, but the composed Ersson kept them off the scoreboard.

Konecny raced down ice on a two-on-two, made a great left-circle move to get free for a shot neat the high slot, and beat goalie Jacob Markstrom.

Flyers center Noah Cates “made a good defensive play to get it back to us, and the (Calgary) D kind of played a switch there and it worked to my favor,” Konecny said before getting injured.

It was his 27th goal — three more than his previous career high before this season.

With a little over six minutes left in the second, Konecny (two points) was injured when checked near the boards by MacKenzie Weegar. He went to the locker room to be checked. The Flyers called it an upper-body injury, and it is assumed Konecny was checked for a concussion.

2️⃣1️⃣+4️⃣5️⃣+4️⃣4️⃣=🚨#PHIvsCGY | #FueledByPhilly pic.twitter.com/5cJVSZSdvM

— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) February 20, 2023

3. Nick Deslauriers showed good hands — with a shot, not a fight.

Known more for his fighting, Deslaurier scored on a backhand tip of Cam York’s slick saucer pass to give the Flyers a 2-1 lead with 12:30 left in the second. York came out of the penalty box and went on a two-on-one with Desaluriers.

“Hell of a play by Yorky,” Desalauriers said.

About 1 1/2 minutes later, Backlund whipped a shot past a screened Ersson to cut the deficit to 2-1. Ersson had robbed him in the opening period.

Seeler and Gilbert in close fight. Slight edge to Gilbert. Seeler stuck up for Deslauriers, who was checked by Gilbert. #Flyers

— Sam Carchidi (@BroadStBull) February 20, 2023

4. Tony DeAngelo gave the Flyers some breathing room.

After nicely killing a penalty, Tony DeAngelo increased the lead with 3-1 by scoring from the high slot on a wrister with 8:29 to go in the second. It was his 10th goal, tops among the Flyers’ defensemen.

DeAngelo became the first Flyers defenseman to score 10 goals in his initial season with the team since Michael Del Zotto in 2014-15.

5. Defenseman Travis Sanheim, who played on the top pairing two nights earlier, was benched.

Sanheim was a junior star in Calgary and was looking forward to returning. But coach John Tortorella had another plan. He benched Sanheim, who had an awful game Thursday in Vancouver.

The revamped pairings: Ivan Provorov and Justin Braun, whom the Flyers are showcasing for a possible trade; York and Rasmus Ristolainen; and Nick Seeler (four blocked shots) and DeAngelo.

Provorov played a season-high 27:31 and blocked four shots.

Breakaways

Scott Laughton had two assists and was plus-3. … Calgary’s Blake Coleman hit the post on a breakaway with 3:47 remaining. … Calgary was coming off a 3-2 OT win over the Rangers. … .Joel Farabee, normally a left winger, centered wingers Olle Lycksell and Allison (four hits) on the fourth line. Farabee played just 3:52. … The Flyers finish their four-game trip Tuesday in Edmonton, where Carter Hart will return home and get the start.

PHN: Flyers’ Travis Konecny Injured vs. Calgary