I really wonder if anyone outside of Flyerdom realizes just how good Steve Mason has been for the Flyers this season.
With better offense at the start and tighter team defense through the first couple weeks of October, Mason could easily be among the league leaders in wins and goals against average.
Right now, he’s ranked 10th in one category – save percentage _ at .932.
He was again spectacular on Tuesday during the Flyers 5-2 win over the Ottawa Senators, though as irony would have it, the save of the game was Nick Grossmann’s double skate on Kyle Turris, who was an absolute bear in this game for the Sens.
We haven’t seen a goalie give the Flyers a fighting chance for two points every night since the days of Ron Hextall. Yeah, it’s been that long.
Mason even had a stop on Turris’ penalty shot late in the game.
“It’s huge, but overall, the way he played was unbelievable,” Grossmann said. “Not just this game, the whole year. When your goalies play like that, they give you the chance to win games every time.
“Sometimes you’re going to have a bad night, but when goalies play like that, they win games for you. You can only hope these guys stay healthy and they play the same way.
“He’s been bailing us out a lot. I said it before, he has been our best player the whole year. It’s good to have a guy like that and know he is there if stuff breaks down. Sometimes it just feels nice to return the favor.
“You try to do whatever you can to help him and that’s how it has to work. We need him to be our best player pushing forward here to try to be successful, that’s what we need.”
Mason has been as humble as they come throughout the season. A couple times he lost games or even shutouts because of breakdowns and bit his lip without criticizing teammates.
Think Ilya Bryzgalov would have handled things that way? Actually, he didn’t. He was very vocal, at times, about the mess around him but not very introspective about the mess within his own mind.
What Mason liked best about this win was the way the Flyers came back in the third period. For the umpteenth time it was a one-goal game with the Flyers up, 2-1, when the period began.
The Sens rather quickly tied it, regained momentum and began a “push” on the Flyers when Grossmann made his dual saves with his skates on an empty net with Mason out of position.
At the first stoppage of play, the officials went to replay to see if Turris had scored on Grossmann and the long delay allowed the Flyers to regain their composure.
When play resumed, the Flyers scored twice in 23 seconds, took charge and it was lights out.
Lights out in the third.
That’s what coach Craig Berube has been preaching has to change on the Flyers. Get a lead, hold a lead, enlarge a lead in the final period and make it lights out on an opponent. Mason said that was significant.
“Earlier in the season, guys were really struggling to find their games,” Mason said. “You can see it now that guys are starting to play with a lot more confidence, making real nice passes that normally they weren’t making early on in the year.
“So with them coming around with their game and the confidence building, you’re going to see a much tighter hockey game.
“With us coming back with the two goals in the third period… that’s what the team is known for in the past –coming back and having big goals and big opportunities. It’s nice to see and let’s just hope that it keeps continuing.”
The Flyers have a five-game point streak. They’re 2 points out of a playoff spot. There’s hope in Flyerdom that the disastrous start to the season is finally behind everyone and this team is going to settle into good hockey.
There remain some hurdles, however. The Flyers penalty kill units are showing signs now of not Max Talbot’s absence. Two games in a row the PK units forked over 2 power play goals to the opponent.
And while the power play is slightly better, it’s still in the bottom third of the NHL.
You don’t go out and grab power play guys off teams. Claude Giroux was the Flyers best PP guy two seasons ago with 38 points.
He needs to become their best guy again and right now he’s headed for a 20-21 player play point total. If he gets better – a lot better _ so will the power play.
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