Fans of the Philadelphia Flyers held their collective breath when goaltender Dan Vladar appeared shaken up in Wednesday night’s Game 3 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
Vladar did not take part in Thursday’s practice at the Flyers Training Center. However, Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet revealed after practice that while Vladar is hurting, he was simply given the day off for maintenance.
Exhale.
“It’s more of a maintenance day,” Tocchet told the media Thursday afternoon. “He was going to probably be off anyways, but he is a little banged up. Feels better today. That’s basically all the information I really have.”
Flyers avoid nightmare scenario with Dan Vladar injury scare
Vladar, who was awarded the Bobby Clarke Trophy as the Flyers’ team MVP at the end of the regular season, suffered an apparent injury to his right arm in Wednesday night’s tilt. The injury occurred in the third period when Penguins forward Bryan Rust drove his knee into Vladar’s elbow during a scoring chance on a Pittsburgh power play. The game was briefly paused while Vladar received medical attention from the training staff, but the 28-year-old backstop fought through the discomfort to help guide the Flyers to the 5-2 win.
Vladar has been nothing short of sensational for the Flyers since he was inked to a two-year, $6.7 million contract last summer. He finished the regular season with a .906 save percentage and 2.42 goals against average in 52 appearances. He’s upped his game even more in the postseason, currently sporting a sterling .946 save percentage and 1.33 goals against average through three outings. He logged his first shutout as a Flyer in Monday night’s Game 2 victory in Pittsburgh.
If Vladar’s injury were serious, backup goalie Sam Ersson would likely be in line to get the starting nod for Game 4. Statistically, Ersson was one of the worst goalies in the NHL during the regular season. Of the 59 goalies to appear in at least 25 games during the regular season, Ersson ranked dead last with an abysmal .870 save percentage. Per MoneyPuck.com, he also ranked fifth-to-last out of 98 goalies with -16.5 goals saved above expected. After the Olympic break, though, Ersson’s play improved dramatically. In his final seven starts of the regular season, he went 6-1-0 and posted a remarkable .912 save percentage, along with a 1.99 goals against average.
For now, one can reasonably assume Vladar will once again be in the crease for the Flyers as they look to complete the sweep against the Penguins on Broad Street Saturday night. But if Ersson does eventually need to step in, he is confident in his game.
“You try to work very hard throughout the year to build that ‘day by day’ mentality,” Ersson said to the media Thursday. “You have to be ready at all times. I think that’s something you work on to just keep your game in a good spot, so when your name is called upon, you’re ready to go.”
Vladar wasn’t the only Flyer missing from Thursday’s practice. Forward Owen Tippett and defenseman Cam York were also given the day off. They, too, were held out of practice for maintenance purposes.
While York has been a steady defensive presence on the back end, Tippett has been among the Flyers’ best players throughout the series. The speedy winger has not only been an offensive generator, but he’s also set the tone physically, leading the Flyers with 20 hits in the series. After setting up Garnet Hathaway for a highlight-reel goal in Game 2, the 27-year-old winger fittingly scored the empty-netter in Game 3 to secure the 3-0 series lead.
Tippett and York should both be considered likely to suit up for Game 4, scheduled for 8 p.m. ET Saturday night.
