After evaluating the forwards and defensemen, it’s time to take a look at the goaltenders of the Philadelphia Flyers and how they have played this season as we wrap up our midseason report cards before the Flyers are back in action post-All-Star break.
SAMUEL ERSSON
(Heather Barry Images, LLC)
After a brutal start to the season, Samuel Ersson has been quite successful in goal for the Flyers and will be their number one goaltender for the foreseeable future.
Ersson lost his first three starts this season and recorded a measly .763 SV% and 4.88 GAA in that stretch, but he stepped up his game in a big way afterwards.
Since that three-game blunder, the Falun, Sweden native has recorded the win in 12 of his last 22 appearances to accompany a .913 SV% and 2.28 in those 22 games.
Overall, Ersson is 12-9-3 with an .898 SV%, 2.60 GAA, and 3 shutouts. Ersson leads all rookie goaltenders in wins and shutouts and has quietly found himself in the Calder Trophy conversation.
Ersson was even named to NHL.com’s All-Rookie All-Star team over the recent break.
His numbers will hopefully improve, but Ersson has largely played well when called upon and he’ll see the lion’s share of the starts for the Flyers for the rest of the season.
GRADE – B
CARTER HART
(Heather Barry Images, LLC)
Hart was 12-9-3 with a .906 SV%, 2.80 GAA, and 1 shutout before being granted indefinite personal leave to face one charge of sexual assault by the London Police Service in the wake of the 2018 Team Canada scandal.
Hart is on Non-Roster status and will likely not play again this season.
CAL PETERSEN
(Heather Barry Images, LLC)
Cal Petersen hasn’t played much as a Flyer so far since being acquired from Los Angeles in the Ivan Provorov trade, but he’s performed about as advertised.
In just three appearances and two starts with Philadelphia, Petersen is 1-1-0 with an .889 SV% and 3.38 GAA. With AHL Lehigh Valley, Petersen is 5-8-2 with an .890 SV% and 3.20 GAA.
His first Flyers start on November 4th against his former Kings teammates did not go according to plan as he gave up 5 goals on 30 shots in a 5-0 loss. However, Petersen did get his revenge in his homecoming exactly one week later in a 4-2 Flyers victory, stopping 35 of 37 shots at Crypto.com Arena.
Petersen has had one bad game, one good game, and made a relief appearance on January 27th against Boston after Samuel Ersson got the hook in a 6-2 loss. He has been mediocre, but nothing more and nothing less.
Expect Petersen to stick around as the Flyers’ backup this season.
GRADE – C-
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