Flyers’ Carter Hart Will Return Thursday vs. Talented Dallas

The Philadelphia Flyers sent goaltender Sam Ersson back to the AHL’s Phantoms on Wednesday — a sign that Carter Hart is ready to play Thursday in Dallas against the hungry Stars.

He will be in the nets for the 8:30 p.m. game (NBC Sports Philadelphia), coach John Tortorella confirmed.

Hart, 24, missed the last five games because of an unspecified injury. While sidelined, the Flyers have just one win, a 3-2 victory over Montreal.

In his last outing, Hart made 29 saves and collected his second shutout of the season, a 3-0 victory over Detroit on March 25.

Overall, Hart is 21-21-10 with a 2.90 goals-against average and a .909 save percentage. He has been the Philadelphia Flyers’ most consistent player in another playoff-less season.

The 24-year-old goaltender is did not play in the Flyers’ 5-1 loss to Dallas on Nov. 13. Felix Sandstrom was in the nets for that game.

In his career, Hart has played extremely well against Dallas despite a 1-2 record. He has a 2.05 GAA and a .932 save percentage in his career against the Stars, who are battling Minnesota and Colorado for first place in the Central Division.

All three teams have 98 points, with the Avs having a game in hand on the other two teams.

Hart’s splits this season have been very consistent. At home, he has a 2.86 GAA and a .907 save percentage. On the road, his has a 2.95 GAA and a .910 save percentage.

Breakaways

Morgan Frost has a career-high five-game point streak, during which he has five goals and seven points. … The Flyers have five games remaining — three on the road, and two at home. They host Boston on Sunday and Johnny Gaudreau and Columbus on Tuesday. Gaudreau, a South Jersey native who could be on a line next season with Connor Bedard if the Blue Jackets win the draft lottery, has 71 points (19 goals, 52 assists) in 75 games. … The Flyers have lost four straight, allowing a total of 19 goals, including two empty-netters, in that span. … Ersson had a 3.07 GAA and .899 save percentage in 12 games with the Flyers. … Tortorella will be back behind the bench tonight. … Kieffer Bellows and Tony DeAngelo will be among the scratches.

Pick: Dallas, 5-2.

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