Steve Mason to Start Game 4 for Flyers

Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

The Philadelphia Flyers will start goaltender Steve Mason in game four on Friday versus the New York Rangers.

Mason hasn’t seen much game action since he suffered an upper body injury on April 12 against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Ray Emery had started the first three games of the series but had given up 10 goals on 89 shots for a .888 save percentage and a 3.49 goals against average. Those type of numbers from the Flyers goalie could lose them the series.  The Flyers trail the Rangers two games to one in the series.

Emery was pulled from game three after allowing four goals on just 20 shots.  Mason came in for the final 7:15 of the game.  He wasn’t tested much because the Rangers only had three shots the rest of the game, and Mason made all three of the saves.

Mason can also handle and pass the puck better than Emery.  If Mason can get some stretch passes to his defensemen around center ice then maybe the forwards can sneak in front the opposition for more scoring chances.

The start will be Mason’s sixth career playoff game.  The goalie led the Columbus Blue Jackets to the postseason in 2009 during his rookie season.  He was 0-4, posted a .878 save percentage, and had a 4.27 GAA.

The Flyers better hope that Mason isn’t rusty or they could be facing a 3-1 series deficit heading back to Madison Square Garden for game five, and an early round exit.