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.
- Scoob

So how is starting Neuvirth any different? Does it correct our issues?

Does it make the Flyers offense all of a sudden productive.

Does it make our PK wake up and not collapse? I dont get it.

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
- sjk540

And believe me, I would have loved for that Ovechkin goal to have been stopped.

But the 100-foot goal, the one off the stanchion....sometimes, that garbage happens.

Man, just look at YouTube. Once quick glance shows you Jonathan Quick giving up a slapshot goal from center ice off Derek Morris. There are more, far more, than what a guy like Jeremy Roenick starts moaning about when he's saying it's the worst goal in the history of ever

It just freaking happens

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.
- jak521

serious answer....The Goalie has to be your best penalty killer. If Mason plays tonight then I hope your right and he steals the show....

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?)
- bodiva88

EXACTLY how I see it.

If you wanted to make a change in net, the time was 3rd period of game 3.

Not, lets switch our starter to see if HE can manage to steal a game for us. Thats totally wrong. Mason deserves better IMO.

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

Hakstol didn't show loyalty by playing him game 3 when he easily could have played Neuvirth after the center ice goal?

Look at Anaheim. They have a franchise goalie in Gisbon, who is young, and they just yanked him for Anderson.

Detroit replace Howard for Mrazek.

Zatkaff played a great game one and lost game 2 and now got replaced for game 3.


Goalies face adversity. sometimes they get pulled. it happens.

If I don't pull him because it could effect him for next year then he isn't the right goalie.

So how is starting Neuvirth any different? Does it correct our issues?

Does it make the Flyers offense all of a sudden productive.

Does it make our PK wake up and not collapse? I dont get it.
- jak521

I don't know. He hasn't played yet.

What if they score 5 goals tonight and the pk goes 5 for 5?

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

I think he's a little banged up somewhere. Game one he was terrific, games two and three not so terrific.

serious answer....The Goalie has to be your best penalty killer. If Mason plays tonight then I hope your right and he steals the show....
- landros 2

Thats such a gimmick. I have played defense for years. The 4 guys in front of the goalie (three at times) are just as important as the goalie. If they dont play well, he wont stand a chance.

Just for the record. Mason has made 20 PP saves in 3 games. Against the best PP team in the league. With the most dangerous scorer in the league.

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?)
- bodiva88

exactly, Mason is exactly what we need and exactly what we have needed. i feel we owe him this start, not starting him to me is not an option. i mean technically it is, but it shouldnt be.

Again: That's why we never have nice things at the goaltending position. Mason got off to a little bit of a slower start, and now the narrative is that he wasn't the No. 1?

Was he the No. 1 when he outplayed Neuvirth over the last 3-plus months, then?

As a fanbase, we are never gonna learn. We are never gonna learn how to ignore small sample sizes for goaltenders
- AllInForFlyers

Mason shouldn't be looked at as not the number 1 or not a good goalie. My only question is whether or not he's banged up and mentally off his game right now. who gives us the best chance to win tonight?

I think there is case to be made for starting either Mason or Neuvirth.

Either way, the flyers will win tonight.

exactly, Mason is exactly what we need and exactly what we have needed. i feel we owe him this start, not starting him to me is not an option. i mean technically it is, but it shouldnt be.
- sjk540

I dont give a flying flock what the world thinks...Philly is a great city and Philly fans are great....I will always love the Flyers

Bill,
I truly hope that's not your last pre-game blog for this year.
- missingmike

It won't be. They play again later this year.

Mason shouldn't be looked at as not the number 1 or not a good goalie. My only question is whether or not he's banged up and mentally off his game right now. who gives us the best chance to win tonight?

I think there is case to be made for starting either Mason or Neuvirth.

Either way, the flyers will win tonight.
- funmaster18

Here is where I see the biggest problem...

Tonight is a lose-lose for Mason. If the Flyers lose, he got passed over for the backup in the final game of the year.

If they win, there is no way Haxstol can go back to Mason for game 5, and what does that do to Mason?

He has been fantastic for 3 years. Played his ass off in the Flyers last playoff series. And this is how he is repaid? I dont like. Not at all.

to sit mason now would send a bad message for THE FUTURE, and the future is all this season has been about
- sjk540

Both goalie contracts are up at the end of next season. I'm pretty sure there is enough motivation there that any boo boos to pride will be plenty healed by then.

And believe me, I would have loved for that Ovechkin goal to have been stopped.

But the 100-foot goal, the one off the stanchion....sometimes, that garbage happens.

Man, just look at YouTube. Once quick glance shows you Jonathan Quick giving up a slapshot goal from center ice off Derek Morris. There are more, far more, than what a guy like Jeremy Roenick starts moaning about when he's saying it's the worst goal in the history of ever

It just freaking happens
- AllInForFlyers

haha dude i know, my comment was in support of mason, were not gonna win with the play of our team regardless of what mason does. were leaving mason out to dry in this series, i kno it happens, and it wasnt what lost us the game. if we lost 2-1 maybe. but the game was still in hand and we didnt even sniff another goal, cant be blaming that poop on mason

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.
- jak521

Your goalie sometimes has to be your best PKer. Mason certainly was that in Game 1. But that was unsustainable with no help in front. Flyers have blocked a slew of shots but the puck movement and traffic are at will.

I don't know. He hasn't played yet.

What if they score 5 goals tonight and the pk goes 5 for 5?
- J35Bacher

Than Neuvirth has super powers. Flyers will likely go on to win the cup and he will win the Conn Smythe.

The point is, Mason deserves tonight. He has earned it over three years here. In the most important game of your season.. you go with your top guy.

I'm actually ok with starting Neuvirth as I think Mason is exhausted both mentally and physically

Mason shouldn't be looked at as not the number 1 or not a good goalie. My only question is whether or not he's banged up and mentally off his game right now. who gives us the best chance to win tonight?

I think there is case to be made for starting either Mason or Neuvirth.

Either way, the flyers will win tonight.
- funmaster18

I don't even think people are saying that.

I feel they are 0-3 and making the change isn't a bad option. Especially since Neuvirth has played well this year.

I don't like the fact when people say we "owe" him or "it's a slap in the face". Because it's not. It's reality.

Here is where I see the biggest problem...

Tonight is a lose-lose for Mason. If the Flyers lose, he got passed over for the backup in the final game of the year.

If they win, there is no way Haxstol can go back to Mason for game 5, and what does that do to Mason?

He has been fantastic for 3 years. Played his ass off in the Flyers last playoff series. And this is how he is repaid? I dont like. Not at all.
- jak521

If they played Neuvirth and he plays out of his mind I'm fine with them riding him. at least for the rest of the series. I don't really care if Hakstol can't go back to Mason. You have to go with the better goalie in the moment, because you only have one game now at a time to try and force another.

If they have confidence in Mason still and he's not hurt then play Mason. I'm good with that. But I'm not making my decision based on "How will Mason feel?"

See, many people know this stuff happens, even in the playoffs. It happens every two or three years or so

But because Jeremy Roenick has ZERO perspective beyond what he saw five seconds ago, Mason's goal is the worst goal ever

Take a look at some more "worst goals ever," including some in the playoffs:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhNAhEE-BnI

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

Mason or Neuvirth?

Here is where I see the biggest problem...

Tonight is a lose-lose for Mason. If the Flyers lose, he got passed over for the backup in the final game of the year.

If they win, there is no way Haxstol can go back to Mason for game 5, and what does that do to Mason?

He has been fantastic for 3 years. Played his ass off in the Flyers last playoff series. And this is how he is repaid? I dont like. Not at all.
- jak521

yes sir, i wont like it either. you play mason because he was the main reason you're here. thats it, endo story

Your goalie sometimes has to be your best PKer. Mason certainly was that in Game 1. But that was unsustainable with no help in front. Flyers have blocked a slew of shots but the puck movement and traffic are at will.
- bmeltzer

Why are they so damn passive. Its the same problem they had when teams pull the goalie. I dont know for sure, but my guess is that the Flyers allowed more goals against with the opposition goalie pulled than any other team in the league.

If you allow a team like Washington -with all of their talent- the time and space to move the puck... its not a matter of if, but when. They are going to score. 8 out of 12 times.