Steve Mason has a 2.37 GAA and .923 save percentage in six starts this season. (Kevin Durso/Flyerdelphia)
The lone bright spot for the Philadelphia Flyers in a dismal
1-7-0 start has ironically been the one area that has plagued them most in the
last decade. It is the goalie.
Steve Mason may only have a 1-5-0 record this season. But his
2.37 goals against average and .923 save percentage are good enough for 19th
and 20th respectively in the NHL among all goalies.
Mason is also in a contract year for the Flyers. On the ice,
he is delivering with his performance. In most cases, his defensemen have been
the problem when the puck finds its way into the net, the reasoning behind a
new “intense” practice style under Craig Berube.
“We want to make sure we’re clearing our net,” Berube said,
“but not on our goalie. I’m not sure that’s a good move. That’s not something
anybody should be doing.”
Berube also complimented Mason on his early-season success,
one of the few Flyers with positive numbers through the first eight games.
“He’s been excellent,” Berube said. “He’s given us a chance
to win every game, in my opinion. He’s played really well, and I like his
game.”
Mason has been given most of the workload, starting six of
the eight games. Despite playing well, he still shoulders some of the
responsibility for the team’s 1-7-0 start.
“I feel well, but at the same time this is a team
environment,” Mason said. “I’m part of that record as well. It’s frustrating
for anybody despite individual stats and all that.”
With his contract status up in the air at this point, it is
the farthest thing from Mason’s mind. However, he does have a stance on where
he’d like to be following this season.
“This is where I’d like to spend the rest of my career,”
Mason said. “I love it here. I love the organization, the guys on this team.
Hopefully I’ll continue playing well, and whatever happens, happens.”
Kevin Durso is a contributor for Flyerdelphia. You can
follow him on twitter @KDursoPhilsNet.
