Samuel Ersson kept a clean sheet in the first period. But in the second, the home team New Jersey gained momentum – and Ersson couldn't keep up. In the middle of the second period, he was replaced by Ivan Fedotov.
The substitution was not a reflection of Samuel Ersson's performance, says Philadelphia's coach John Tortorella.
The goalie substitution had nothing to do with Ersson. I just wanted to give Fedotov some work, he says, according to NHL.com.
Despite Philadelphia's goalie substitution, New Jersey scored another goal in the final period, and won the match 5–0. Swedish Jesper Bratt contributed with two assists.
It was bad timing for Ersson, who had just hours earlier been selected for Tre Kronor's squad for the Four Nations. This was because star goalie Jacob Markström, who normally plays for New Jersey, had injured a knee and will be out for between four and six weeks.
The Four Nations will take place on 13–21 February in Montreal and Boston.
