Sam Ersson returns for Flyers; John Tortorella hopes slumping Matvei Michkov ‘grows off the other night’

Sam Ersson is back in net for the Flyers.

The Flyers’ top goalie has not played since suffering a lower-body injury against the San Jose Sharks on New Year’s Eve. He stopped all 15 shots he faced in the first 40 minutes but did not come out for the third period.

It was the third time this season Ersson missed time with an injury.

“He’s healthy. He would not be here if we didn’t get the OK from the trainers. He is healthy,” coach John Tortorella said. “This is a guy, and it’s a legit question, this is a guy that had no injuries for a couple of years and now has been, bang, bang, bang. Certainly, it puts you into a pause as far as what’s going on. But we’re not going to overthink it. Sometimes it’s circumstance, it’s tough luck, whatever it may be.”

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Ersson has appeared in 19 games this season and has a 3.02 goals-against average and an .884 save percentage. According to Natural Stat Trick, among goalies who have played at least 600 minutes at five-on-five, the Swedish netminder has the worst save percentage (.880) and the fourth-worst goals-saved above average (minus-10.25).

This season, the Flyers are allowing the third-most goals per game (3.54). But over the last two games, with Ivan Fedotov in net after he had an extended layoff, they allowed six goals and held the high-powered Toronto Maple Leafs offense to 25 shots on Sunday and 17 shots on Tuesday.

“I think no matter who’s in net, we’ve got to play that kind of same style of hockey,” forward Sean Couturier said. “Be responsible defensively, be aggressive on the forecheck, in the neutral zone. That’s kind of the way we want to play.”

The Flyers have been playing well lately. They have gone toe-to-toe with the NHL’s heavyweights in the Maple Leafs, Los Angeles Kings, and Vegas Golden Knights, even if it hasn’t translated into wins.

“In terms of effort and playing the right style of play, it’s encouraging,” Couturier said. “It can be a little frustrating, though, because you’re not getting the results. But we’ve got to stick to it. That’s where we’ve got to dig even deeper and just play the same way and just find a way to win.”

The wins haven’t come his season for the Flyers. Officially at the halfway mark, the Flyers have 17 wins, and only nine in regulation, tying them with the San Jose Sharks for the fewest in the NHL. But thanks to the wonkiness of the Eastern Conference, they are just three points back of a wild-card spot.

“It’s belief. For where we’re at as a team, as far as where we’re at with our rebuild, and where we’re at with our goaltending this year, you need to have belief,” Tortorella said. “We have to really concentrate if we’re going to do this together, we need to help. We need to limit scoring chances until we get ourselves solidified in net.”

There are several issues with the Flyers beyond the blue paint.

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Owen Tippett has two assists and zero goals in his last seven games. Travis Sanheim has one assist in his last nine games. Highly touted rookie Matvei Michkov has just two points in his last 12 games. Tortorella thought Michkov had one of his better games on Tuesday night and had his legs but again noted that the 20-year-old needs to address proper diet and conditioning to play in the NHL.

“I’m hoping he grows off the other night,” Tortorella said. “He’s another one that is driven by results. He wants goals. He wants assists because he feels that’s the way you show. But he played really good the other night. I hope he gets some luck tonight and continues to play that way.”

Scott Laughton was wearing a tinted visor at practice. He doubts he’ll wear it for the game but wanted to try it again with how sensitive his eyes are to light. Laughton said he is good to go after colliding with Michkov in the third period on Tuesday. His jaw and cheek took the brunt of it. … Forward Olle Lycksell has been named an AHL All-Star for the first time. Before being recalled from the Lehigh Valley Phantoms on Dec. 27, Lycksell had 24 points (nine goals, 15 assists), including three game-winners, in 25 games. He last played for the Phantoms on Dec. 20, notching a hat trick and an assist, and skated in one game for the Flyers on Dec. 21. “I think I was in my best form, right before Christmas there,” the 25-year-old said. “So it’s kind of tough now. Just trying to hang in there.”