Sam Ersson Continues To Be Saving The Flyers' Season

Sam Ersson continues to be dominate between the pipes despite Philadelphia's defense not being as strong as it once was.

The most remarkable player this season for the Flyers has been the unexpected hero, Sam Ersson. Initially the backup goalie, Ersson's journey took a surprising turn when he was thrown into the starting position nearly midway through the season. Before the trade deadline, the Flyers secured an impressive 2-1 win over the Panthers, with Ersson making 29 saves and earning the second star of the night. However, the team faced a setback after losing their top defender, Sean Walker, and falling to the Tampa Bay Lightning 7-0. Ersson was pulled from the game after the Lightning scored four goals in ten minutes, with Felix Sandstrom taking over for the remainder of the contest. 

Despite the San Jose Sharks' position as one of the NHL's struggling teams, this game marked a significant rebound for Ersson, demonstrating his resilience after a tough match. Despite allowing Filip Zadina two power-play goals, Ersson managed to stop the other 27 shots on goal from the Sharks. This victory, with a final score of 3-2, showcased Ersson's ability to bounce back and perform at his best. 

The main issue Philadelphia has going forward is managing their penalty kill. Consistently throughout the season, they were one of the best penalty-kill teams in the league. With the loss of their best defender and the fact that they are still missing Jamie Drysdale due to injury, there is a gap in the defense. That means more pressure will be put on Ersson, who will have to maintain his dominance in the net. The push to the playoffs is creeping along. This is a vital time for Philadelphia to try to get a playoff stop, even though they're in an active rebuild. Without any question, there is a general consensus that Ersson is the team's new goalie, but is he a franchise goalie? The 24-year-old has an impressive rookie season, but with a slate of complex games approaching, this will be his test. 

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