Flyers activate Hart, have good decisions in net originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
The Flyers will have their No. 1 goalie back Thursday against the Coyotes.
Carter Hart was officially activated from injured reserve Wednesday. The 24-year-old did not suit up during the club’s three-game California road trip because of an upper-body injury he suffered from a collision the day before Christmas Eve.
The Flyers swept the road swing as Samuel Ersson played well in net, going 3-0-0 with a 2.00 goals-against average and .930 save percentage.
So the Flyers have good decisions to make at the game’s most important position.
One would think it’s most likely the Flyers turn to Hart when they host Arizona (7 p.m. ET/NBCSP). He hasn’t started since Dec. 22 and the Flyers probably don’t want to prolong his layoff. Hart has been their most important player this season, so getting him back into a groove at home would make sense.
Another decision for the Flyers is Hart’s goalie partner. The club could carry three netminders temporarily on the roster. However, having either Ersson or Felix Sandstrom playing games at AHL affiliate Lehigh Valley and helping the Phantoms would be ideal.
The 23-year-old Ersson is waivers exempt. Sandstrom, who turns 26 next Thursday, is not, so if the Flyers want to send him to Lehigh Valley, they’d have to clear him through waivers.
Sending Ersson to the Phantoms and having him start a bunch of games would seem like the easiest move. But following his rough NHL debut Dec. 23, Ersson helped the Flyers win three straight for the first time since the club started 3-0-0 on the season.
Some young depth in net is a commodity. The Flyers have it right now and we’ll see how they plan to use it.
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