Steve Mason is Flyers key in Push for the Playoffs

Steve Mason is Flyers key in Push for the Playoffs

With the NHL season winding down and playoff hockey heating up, every game is that much more significant. Only the Washington Capitals and Los Angeles Kings have clinched playoff spots, leaving 14 teams vying for their chance to play for Lord Stanley.

There is a tight race for the wild card spot in the Eastern Conference. The teams that have occupied that spot have been changing often due to the fact that only a few points separate these teams. A team that is on the brink of clinching one of the wild card spots in the east is the Philadelphia Flyers and their push for the playoffs is anchored by their guy in the crease, Steve Mason.

The 27-year-old netminder who is in his third season with the Flyers has made an impact on the team. He is also a big reason why the orange and black are in their current position.

The Flyers have a twelve game stretch which includes a four game road trip, a stretch that would prove difficult for most goalies. However, Mason proved that he can handle the pressure in their 4-1 win over the New York Islanders Monday night.

With backup goaltender Michal Neuvirth out three weeks with a torn meniscus, it is now Mason’s turn to step up and be the Flyers key in their push for the playoffs.

Michal Neuvirth did his job as backup throughout the season helping the Flyers to stay in games and making some unbelievable saves along the way. Now the orange and black turn to #35 to help them stay in the hunt for a wildcard spot.

The Flyers (35-24-12 82 points) are only three points behind the Isles for the first wildcard spot and one point behind Detroit for the second spot. With a pair of games against the Columbus Blue Jackets the Flyers have an opportunity to capitalize on four points which would help looking towards the final month of the regular season.

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Obtaining those four points can only happen if Steve Mason is on his A game and the pressure of their schedule isn’t too big of a load for him to carry. At this point in the Flyers season, every save matters.

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With a record of 5-1-1 in his last seven appearances, Mason will be put to the test going back to back for several games to finish out the season.

The Flyers have also recalled 22-year-old rookie Anthony Stolarz who has yet to make his NHL debut, but has been solid (19-15-7 in 42 games) with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. The possibility of Stolarz getting his first start could become a reality depending on how well Mason plays throughout this crucial time in the Flyers schedule.

With match-ups against teams well out of the playoff picture such as Toronto, Winnipeg and Arizona it could be a good opportunity for head coach Dave Hakstol to give Mason a well deserved rest and let Stolarz man the pipes for a few games. The Flyers will finish out the season with some tougher opponents such as the Pittsburgh Penguins twice, Detroit and the New York Islanders again and those are the games that Steve Mason should be fresh and prepared for.

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The final weeks of the regular season always prove to be exciting but for the Philadelphia Flyers these games hold that much more weight. They need every lucky bounce to go their way in order to secure a wildcard spot that they have been on the cusp for weeks now. With the tough loss to their cross state rivals Pittsburgh out of their sight, all eyes will be on finishing out this stretch of games strong.