Trailing the New York Rangers two games to one in their best-of-seven Stanley Cup Playoff series, the Philadelphia Flyers got some good news on Thursday as their starting goalie, Steve Mason, is finally healthy and ready to start in game four. Mason was injured in the last weekend of the regular season (April 12th), and missed the first two games of the series, and backed up Ray Emery in game three. It was officially announced as an upper body injury. (Sports Injury Alerts on Mason)
The Flyers announced the news via the Team’s official twitter account.
Steve Mason will get the start in Game 4 on Friday. #Flyers #ClutchTime
— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) April 24, 2014
See what Steve Mason had to say today about starting Game 4: http://t.co/GDHbiMsZlT
— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) April 24, 2014
Given the Rangers lead in the series, and game five being back in New York, where the Flyers have had major issues in recent years at Madison Square Garden, Friday’s game is close to a must-win for Philadelphia. Mason played the final 7:15 of Game three, stopping all three shots he faced.
“I felt really sharp, especially on the power play stuff there,” Mason said after Thursday’s practice. “I was moving well, seeing the pucks through screens. If that’s a gauge, I feel pretty good.”
In 61 games this season, the 25-year-old Mason posted a 33-18-7 record with a 2.50 goals-against average and a .917 save percentage.
Ray Emery started the first two games of the series and posted a 1-2 record with a 3.49 goals-against average an an .888 save percentage.
Mason can help the Flyers with more than just stopping pucks. He’s also a very good puckhandler who can help the defencemen move the puck out of the zone quicker. For Philly its like having a third defenceman on the ice.
“You look at ways that you can help out your defencemen,” he said. “Help to transition into a breakout a little bit smoother and spend less time in our own zone. If that’s something that I can help out on, it’ll be a benefit to us.”
For the latest sports injury news, check out our friends at Sports Injury Alert.
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