They both finished practice at the same time and hovered near the bench before goalie Michal Neuvirth skated over to Steve Mason and gave him a tap on the pads, as if to say, "go get ‘em."
Though neither goalie would say outright, nor would coach Dave Hakstol, every indication is that Mason will reclaim his spot on Tuesday night as the Flyers’ starting goaltender against the streaking Dallas Stars, who have won three in a row.
Mason wants to return right away and Hakstol has assured, with back-to-back games Tuesday and Wednesday, both his goaltenders will play.
Mason, however, offered the biggest clue when he spoke about the video session the coaching staff had scheduled for him to review tape of Dallas.
“What their power play is like, what their penalty kill is like, you can tailor your game to,” Mason said. “We haven’t looked at their video yet or gone over their power play.
“But we’ll go over that and it will give me an idea of how I want to play and where I want to play in the crease and what I should be expecting.”
The Flyers had a modest two-game win streak interrupted by five days off between games. Mason has not played since Oct. 12 in Florida, when he was shelled for four goals in less than seven minutes.
Turns out, he had a personal matter on his mind and would miss the next two games with an excused absence.
He’s back now and ready to play without outside worries.
“I feel pretty good, had a good couple days here,” Mason said. “Put the work in and just make sure I did the best I could to prepare for the next games.”
He said he was “excited” at the week ahead because they’re “real good opportunities.”
Neuvirth has two shutouts in three appearances. Conventional logic says he plays but, again, the layoff and the fact the starter is back and needs reinforcement seems to dictate who gets the first game.
“Michal did a great job his last two starts,” Hakstol said. “We’re going into … back-to-back, two-game setting, like we always do, we’ll make our game-decision on a starting goaltender and do that tomorrow.”
It’s unusual, even for the NHL, to have five days off, then return with back-to-back games, and travel, as well.
“Yeah, it’s funny the way the schedule works out,” Mason said. “Five days where you could have thrown a game or two in there and spread out some of the back-to-backs we have throughout the year.
“That’s the way the schedule goes sometimes. We put in some good practice days here to stay sharp and make sure when tomorrow rolls around, that the guys don’t miss a beat out there. The games we’re coming off, the team has played well.”
The past two seasons, Mason has been pulled in both games at Dallas. He played just 40 minutes two years ago at Dallas during a 5-1 loss.
Last season, he again played 40 minutes in Dallas before being yanked in a 6-5 Flyers’ overtime win that went to Ray Emery.
Neuvirth has had lots of time to lose his edge. Yet, he didn’t seem to care which game he plays.
“I don’t care,” he said.
Neuvirth also didn’t think it was any easier or any harder to play on the road.
“I can’t say it’s easy. Not in this league.”
Scratches
Looks like R.J. Umberger, who is fully recovered from his upper-body injury, will remain out, along with fellow healthy scratches Vinny Lecavalier and Luke Schenn.
They all skated as scratches on Monday. Umberger reportedly wasn't happy at being scratched.
Tough to lose your spot in the lineup because of an injury and not be able to reclaim it.
Umberger’s replacement, Sam Gagner has a goal and an assist in the two games he filled in.
Most coaches won’t change a winning lineup, which the Flyers have right now, although the goalie position is not subject to the above rule.