Philadelphia Flyers Have Great Goaltenders In NHL

Philadelphia Flyers goaltending is known by two names: Michal Neuvrith and Steve Mason.

The Philadelphia Flyers are a lucky team. There is no doubt that one of the most important parts of their roster are its goaltenders. A good goaltender can do more than just block pucks. He is the one the team relies on during overtime and shootouts. They have eyes on the ice in all directions and are the clutch player in the team’s time of need. The Flyers are a team with not only one, but two goaltenders that fit those requirements. The team is halfway done with the season and there is no better time to boost their playoff position than now. They’re in the middle of the race for a spot in the Eastern Conference and it’s only going to get more competitive from here on out. The Flyers are have two strong weapons at their disposal: Michal Neuvirth and Steve Mason.

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Mason and Neuvirth have been on fire since November. They’re stamina has only improved and they’re performing better during power plays and even better during even strength. Neuvirth found his way to the Flyers after being moved around from several teams. He was traded from the Washington Capitals in 2014 to the Buffalo Sabres, who then traded him to the New York Islanders in March 2015. He then signed a two-year contract with the Philadelphia Flyers as a free agent on July 1, 2015. Needless to say, it was a smart acquisition for the Flyers and gave them one of the best number two goaltenders in the NHL. He has a save percentage of .936 19 games played and is the highest in the league.

Mason also has performed at a high level, although it is nowhere near as high as Neuvirth’s. He has a save percentage of .915 and as the Flyers number one goaltender, sees a majority of the playing time. He’s strong in even strength but his shortcomings are visible when the team it shorthanded on the ice. He can’t seem to react as quickly or make the essential saves necessary. Mason’s latest start came Tuesday night against the Toronto Maple Leafs and to say it was an outlier of his normal stats would be correct. The Flyers lost 3-2 to the Leafs, who are 15th in the Eastern Conference. This was an uncharacteristic performance by Mason, coupled with a poor overall performance by the team. Yet Mason still made a case for being one of the best goalies in the NHL.

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The dream team of Mason and Neuvirth is not to be underestimated. Both perform well enough in even strength that they rank higher than other elite goalies, such as Braden Holtby of the Washington Capitals and Henrik Lundvquist of the New York Rangers. Having two goalies who can play at such a high level- even with one being a backup- is a beneficial aspect to the team. It would be huge for the Flyers if this consistency managed to stand through the rest of the season. It could land them in the playoffs and even a chance at the Stanley Cup. Yet if history serves at a reminder, it won’t be a long-term sustainable result for either goaltender. Mason could hit another slump and it could have consequences for the whole team. However, Neuvirth has been playing better than in the past season and that could well mean that the Flyers have options when one goaltender starts to decline. That might just help make the Flyers a team that’s worth being a Stanley Cup contender.

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