Hakstol would play him over AMac -- he's proven that
- AllInForFlyers

Hakstol hasn't played Manning over MacDonald once this season. Whenever MacDonald has been on the roster and been healthy, he has played.

He's definitely not the only problem in the series. But he hasn't played very well. I don't know if it would spark the team to be honest, but I also don't think it would hurt to try. That's why Hakstol get's the big bucks, to make these decisions.
- landros 2

He hasnt played very well? He has stood on his head at even strength. Two goals. The really bad misplay, and the AO goal that was a wicked snap shot.

He hasnt even been able to breath on the PK... because of the guys in front of him.

You give him those two goals back... and his even strength save % is .960

Yea.. he's hasnt played well at all.

Hakstol hasn't played Manning over MacDonald once this season. Whenever MacDonald has been on the roster and been healthy, he has played.
- Feanor

Um...but that kinda ignores the fact that they did, indeed, play Manning after they sent MacDonald to the minors

You can't just ignore that significant decision to play Manning instead of MacDonald

get your argument but in the playoffs you go with what you think gives you the best chance to win....They need a shift in momentum...why not start Neuv?
- landros 2

i understand this is the playoffs argument, but honestly, where was this series going? wouldve been tremendous to win the series or even a few games, but honestly, are we cup contenders with nick schultz as our best dman, with Andrew macdonald getting number one minutes, with a penalty kill that has allowed 8 power play goals in three games, and who doesnt have our top penalty kill guy/defensive forward stalwart?

Yes they need a shift in momentum, if we were expected to win the series and compete for a cup. this is all about next year, for experience for the young guys, and for honestly, the joy of one of our teams making the playoffs for the first time in two years. to sit mason now would send a bad message for THE FUTURE, and the future is all this season has been about

so after the years and years and painstaking years we find to get a bonafide number 1, a playoff series that meant next to nothing that we reached only on the back of Mason who started 12 games in a row and was an absolute warrior, who started this year with apparently some bad personal issues, and is a part of the nucleus of this roster, you dont care about sending him a bad message, and dont care if he wants to go and find a new deal? you think neuvirth is the answer? a career backup, who had a really good year as one? its really unbelievable to me to even fathom people thinking Mason isnt the goaltender we need for the long haul
- sjk540

If your telling me that this will hurt Mason's feelings and he is that fragile then that is more worrisome to me.

And I am not saying any of the series is soley mason's fault. But at 0-3 they can make the change.

They're not winning this series. I think the long term message matters more than knee jerks.
- bodiva88

The only reason would be is it might spark them...Probably not but why not try. I really only have a soft argument on this....Its a last ditch effort to save the season.

Game 4 in a 3-0 series is totally different.

Its basically like saying, thanks, but your season is over.
- jak521

You play to win the games. If Mason feels slighted then he can turn that emotion into motivation in September. He came back strong from that period where Hakstol stopped playing him after he came out of the Toronto game with cramp.

As a big supporter of Mase, if the Flyers are going to go full retard again and give up tons of penalties I'd rather Mason not be subjected to that for a 3rd time.

If your telling me that this will hurt Mason's feelings and he is that fragile then that is more worrisome to me.

And I am not saying any of the series is soley mason's fault. But at 0-3 they can make the change.
- J35Bacher

not saying anything about feelings. how would you feel if you started 12 games in a row at the end of a daunting season, willed your team into the playoffs, and at the first sign of trouble are told you're yanked? i dont know any athlete who wouldnt come away thinking, wow i put everything on the line and in a game 4 when were down 0-3, with history saying we're not winning the series, i dont have the trust and confidence in my coach to go back in and try to steal a game or two for my teammates? i mean not even given the shot i think is a slap in the face to someone who was 90% of the reason we got to the playoffs.

Its the 4th quarter of the NFL divisional playoff game. Your wide receiver has twice dropped sure touchdowns, and they ended up being interceptions. Your defense has allowed 5 touchdowns. Your QB fumbled the ball once.

Bring in the backup!

not saying anything about feelings. how would you feel if you started 12 games in a row at the end of a daunting season, willed your team into the playoffs, and at the first sign of trouble are told you're yanked? i dont know any athlete who wouldnt come away thinking, wow i put everything on the line and in a game 4 when were down 0-3, with history saying we're not winning the series, i dont have the trust and confidence in my coach to go back in and try to steal a game or two for my teammates? i mean not even given the shot i think is a slap in the face to someone who was 90% of the reason we got to the playoffs.
- sjk540

He hasnt played very well? He has stood on his head at even strength. Two goals. The really bad misplay, and the AO goal that was a wicked snap shot.

He hasnt even been able to breath on the PK... because of the guys in front of him.

You give him those two goals back... and his even strength save % is .960

Yea.. he's hasnt played well at all.
- jak521

In watching Mason down the stretch...THAT was playing well....a goal from Center ? a wrist shot from 45 ft out....he stop's those in the last two months before the playoff's. He hasn't been horrible and has had some bad bounces, But Ill stick with what my eye's have told me. Mason has not been at his best.

i understand this is the playoffs argument, but honestly, where was this series going? wouldve been tremendous to win the series or even a few games, but honestly, are we cup contenders with nick schultz as our best dman, with Andrew macdonald getting number one minutes, with a penalty kill that has allowed 8 power play goals in three games, and who doesnt have our top penalty kill guy/defensive forward stalwart?

Yes they need a shift in momentum, if we were expected to win the series and compete for a cup. this is all about next year, for experience for the young guys, and for honestly, the joy of one of our teams making the playoffs for the first time in two years. to sit mason now would send a bad message for THE FUTURE, and the future is all this season has been about
- sjk540

I agree with this -- again, they can play Neuvirth. Nobody's saying they can't.

Some of us wouldn't, for these reasons. Neither Mason nor Neuvirth is gonna help them score goals

You play to win the games. If Mason feels slighted then he can turn that emotion into motivation in September.

As a big supporter of Mase, if the Flyers are going to go full retard again and give up tons of penalties I'd rather Mason not be subjected to that for a 3rd time.
- Feanor

this would honestly be the only reason i would sit him, but i would still start him nevertheless. if the game heads in that direction, you pull him, tell him its not worth it for him, and then send out neuvirth.

Um...but that kinda ignores the fact that they did, indeed, play Manning after they sent MacDonald to the minors

You can't just ignore that significant decision to play Manning instead of MacDonald
- AllInForFlyers

That's Hextall's decision, though, and somewhat influenced by the cap. And Manning was used as the #7 in that time period, only playing 33/54 games.

Mason doesnt look right. You are absolutely right about that. He is shell shocked. You could literally have a Brodeur/Hasek/Roy hybrid and we would still be getting crushed.

4 even strength goals in 3 games, and two were ones he would like to have back.
- jak521

Yeah it's bad. He is shell shocked and maybe even banged up. That's the reason I'm fine with putting Neuvirth in. If he looked like himself I'd say hello no let him play through this. And on the other hand, if they started him again, I'd be good with that too.

Happy Birthday Shayne Gostisbehere!

so after the years and years and painstaking years we find to get a bonafide number 1, a playoff series that meant next to nothing that we reached only on the back of Mason who started 12 games in a row and was an absolute warrior, who started this year with apparently some bad personal issues, and is a part of the nucleus of this roster, you dont care about sending him a bad message, and dont care if he wants to go and find a new deal? you think neuvirth is the answer? a career backup, who had a really good year as one? its really unbelievable to me to even fathom people thinking Mason isnt the goaltender we need for the long haul
- sjk540

and who also historically can't stay healthy to save his life.

I agree with this -- again, they can play Neuvirth. Nobody's saying they can't.

Some of us wouldn't, for these reasons. Neither Mason nor Neuvirth is gonna help them score goals
- AllInForFlyers

exactly, its not the goalie here, but the team in front of them. pulling mason for neuvirth, to me, implies hak is blaming the goalie. when in fact it couldnt be any opposite, the team in front of him is not playing well. G and simmer are pointless through 3 games, while voracek, schenn, and ghost each have one point. in 3 games all 6 of our best players have 3 points combined. not gonna win anything like that

I just think it sends a bad message to him, going throughout the whole summer with the though of letting your team down and being yanked in an elimination game. i think it does better to show Hak has loyalty to mason even if he loses. one less thought on his mind after a rough series all around.
- sjk540

I think an argument can be made for both sides and I'm not completely for one vs the other.

In watching Mason down the stretch...THAT was playing well....a goal from Center ? a wrist shot from 45 ft out....he stop's those in the last two months before the playoff's. He hasn't been horrible and has had some bad bounces, But Ill stick with what my eye's have told me. Mason has not been at his best.
- landros 2

There is no denying the center ice shot. It was unfortunate, but it happened. The shot from Ovenchicken clearly caught him off guard, and was placed PERFECTLY with a extremely quick release. Mason needs to stop it, but it wasnt just some 45 foot wrist shot. It was a snap shot on the offside from the most talented goal scorer in NHL history (if he keeps it up for the next couple of seasons).

Aside from that, he has sprawled and dove, and made a handful of ten-bell-stops in each game so far.

There hasnt been a single PK goal against that I think, wow, Mase needs to have that one. Not one.

and who also historically can't stay healthy to save his life.
- bodiva88

he stayed healthy when we needed him, to me thats all that matters. when i look at the future i dont anticipate injuries, they will happen, but cant let that change your strategy or methods.

They're not winning this series. I think the long term message matters more than knee jerks.
- bodiva88

Right, they're most probably not winning the series but that doesn't mean they shouldn't try. Starting Neuvirth may not help, but it might. Quite often a goalie change works. It certainly won't hurt their chances.

Goalies understand that sometimes they get pulled not because of what they've done, but because of what the team in front of them has done. And if they're so fragile that the change ruins them long term, well, maybe they're not the right person for the job anyway.

Serious question. If we had managed to kill of 10 of 12 PK's.... would we even be talking about replacing Mason?

Not for a second. I dont understand Philly fans, but they always seem to misdirect the blame on goalies.

The two single most problematic aspects of this series have been our PK and lack of offense. Neither of which Mason can be blamed for.

There is no denying the center ice shot. It was unfortunate, but it happened. The shot from Ovenchicken clearly caught him off guard, and was placed PERFECTLY with a extremely quick release. Mason needs to stop it, but it wasnt just some 45 foot wrist shot. It was a snap shot on the offside from the most talented goal scorer in NHL history (if he keeps it up for the next couple of seasons).

Aside from that, he has sprawled and dove, and made a handful of ten-bell-stops in each game so far.

There hasnt been a single PK goal against that I think, wow, Mase needs to have that one. Not one.
- jak521

I'm not going to argue on this...I like Mason...I think he's had a good year. I think he's a legit # 1. But it's not about Mason. It's about the team. If I'm Hakstol I'm considering everything at this point and I'm sure he is.

not saying anything about feelings. how would you feel if you started 12 games in a row at the end of a daunting season, willed your team into the playoffs, and at the first sign of trouble are told you're yanked? i dont know any athlete who wouldnt come away thinking, wow i put everything on the line and in a game 4 when were down 0-3, with history saying we're not winning the series, i dont have the trust and confidence in my coach to go back in and try to steal a game or two for my teammates? i mean not even given the shot i think is a slap in the face to someone who was 90% of the reason we got to the playoffs.
- sjk540

The time to give him a rest and send a message to the team was after the 4th goal. They weren't winning that game, it was out of control and you rest him with the message to him that he's not to blame. I felt that game was like the one Roy left the Habs over--leave me out here to dry?Bleep you!

But of course Mase stands up afterword. Never says word one about the play of anyone else. And says he should have had the save on Ovie. (Hmm, then we lose 5-1?)