It might be the preseason, but Steve Mason was in midseason form on Monday night. The Flyers goalie was the primary reason they were competitive in the game.
Mason nearly carried the Flyers to a win, but a late goal to tie the game by the Rangers forced overtime.
In overtime, a giveaway by Scott Laughton sent Keith Yandle the other way on a breakaway. Laughton attempted to break up the play and was called for a penalty shot. Yandle would score, giving the Rangers a 3-2 win over the Flyers on Monday night at Madison Square Garden.
The Flyers were held in their own zone for much of the first period, but did come away with the game's first goal. After grabbing a loose puck behind the Rangers net, the Flyers cycled it out to the point where Mark Streit fired a shot through traffic to beat Antti Raanta. Streit's first goal of the preseason at 4:18 of the first was assisted by Jake Voracek and Michael Raffl.
The rest of the first period, and most of the second as well, was the Steve Mason show. The Flyers goalie held the Rangers off the board, making several difficult saves and stopping all 16 shots the Rangers fired toward him in the first. Mason also stopped all eight Rangers shots in the second.
The Flyers struck for another goal late in the second on the power play. Off the face-off, Streit fired a shot through traffic again. Brayden Schenn was able to tip a rebound to the stick of Wayne Simmonds who buried the rebound for his first of the preseason at 17:59.
There wasn't much that could beat Mason on Monday night, but the Rangers did manage a goal at 4:21 of the third. A shot from the center point by Ryan McDonagh hit a body in front and bounced right to Dan Girardi waiting at the side of the net for the easy goal.
Mason nearly held the Flyers in the game to the finish, but with the Rangers net empty, they got the equalizer. A loose puck came across the net mouth to the tape of Chris Kreider who had an open net and finished. The tying goal came with 1:07 to play in regulation.
In overtime, the Flyers were attempting to create a chance in the attacking zone as Laughton picked up the puck and circled the zone with speed. But as he reached the Rangers blue line, he lost the puck with no one back, and Yandle took over with a breakaway the other way.
Laughton tried to break up the chance with his stick, being whistled for a penalty shot at 1:16 of the overtime. Yandle walked in and beat Mason with a wrist shot to give the Rangers the win.
The Rangers out-shot the Flyers, 44-29. Mason made 41 saves in the loss.
The Flyers were 1-for-6 on the power play while the Rangers were 0-for-6.
Raffl left the game with an upper-body injury and did not return. In the overtime, moments before Laughton's penalty, Rick Nash appeared to catch Voracek with a slewfoot that went uncalled. Voracek was slow to get up and skated to the bench immediately, but was back on the ice after Yandle's game-winning goal arguing the non-call with officials.
The Flyers return to action on Wednesday when they host the New Jersey Devils. The opening face-off is set for 7 p.m.
Kevin Durso is managing editor for Flyerdelphia. Follow him on Twitter @Kevin_Durso.
