Flyers’ Sam Ersson now a go-to goalie shouldering the load

Samuel Ersson turns 25 subsequent week however he speaks like somebody who has been round so much longer than that.

The Flyers’ goaltender bought his ft moist final 12 months when he took over No. 1 duties from Carter Hart round midseason. Hart has since been left unsigned and is a free agent whereas awaiting court docket proceedings on a bunch sexual assault cost towards him and a few teammates from Crew Canada’s 2018 nationwide staff.

On Friday evening at Vancouver, Ersson was set to start out the Flyers’ new season as maybe the staff’s most important performer. Within the eyes of some, beginning off a schedule from the start permits an athlete a level of stability and luxury. Ersson is aware of it’s his job to win or lose.

That’s why he stated at follow he wasn’t feeling any real case of nerves.

“I’d say everybody will get excited,” Ersson stated. “I feel to be slightly bit nervous is an efficient factor. If you’re excited you’re in your toes. I feel we’ve been wanting ahead to this (the season opener) for a very long time.”

Given the circumstances, Ersson put collectively a reasonably stable 2023-24 marketing campaign. He performed in 51 video games with a report of 23-19-7 and a goals-against common of two.82.

The one quantity that could possibly be improved was his save share, which ended up at .890. Most goalies take a look at .900 as kind of the appropriate quantity.

Ersson stated the just lately accomplished coaching camp was a great one for him. In scrimmages, he was examined usually, particularly by kids like Matvei Michkov.

To this point, Michkov has been a fierce competitor across the web, not simply settling for an preliminary shot however a rebound or two and possibly extra.

“He performs just a few extra rebounds than I’d like in some drills,” Ersson stated with a smile. “However I feel that’s a great factor. I feel that’s a trait that quite a lot of good goal-scorers have. They don’t take no for a solution. Even for those who cease two rebounds, they wish to end with the puck within the web.

“It’s form of like a psychological factor. So it goes each methods for me, too.”

Ersson stated he welcomes the problem of teammates comparable to Michkov since you don’t get higher except you compete towards the perfect.

“You wish to compete in follow,” the goalie stated. “I feel that’s at all times good to have. They push me and I attempt to push them.”

Whereas Ersson may appear to be a cool buyer exterior, there’s so much occurring inside.

With somebody like ex-Flyer Ron Hextall, it labored each methods. In video games, he performed with a chip on his shoulder. In practices, issues didn’t change that a lot.

Ersson gives the look he does have the occasional second however chooses to attempt to not let these get the higher of him. If a foul aim goes in, enable a second of frustration after which transfer on.

“There’s quite a lot of emotion within the recreation,” stated Ersson, who was taken within the fifth spherical (143rd total) of the 2018 NHL Draft. “Generally it does get the higher of you.

“You attempt to not let your feelings get an excessive amount of up and down. Maintain them at a constant stage. You recognize issues are going to get thrown at you. Pucks are going to go in. You need to discover methods to cope with that.

“I attempt to hold issues at a great stage.”