Flyers' Mason will face Habs, try to improve his road game
Flyers goalie Steve Mason struggled on the road last season and has not reminded anyone of Bernie Parent in his two appearances away from the Wells Fargo Center this year.
But he will get another chance to engineer a road win Monday night when the Flyers face the 4-0-1 Canadiens at the Bell Centre.
Last season, Mason was outstanding at home, compiling a 14-7-6 record, a 2.23 goals-against average, and a .926 save percentage.
"You're used to the boards, the bounces and the lighting and you're comfortable," he said.
On the road, he was 9-12-4 with a 2.84 GAA and .909 save percentage last season.
So far this season, Mason is 1-1 with a 3.04 GAA and .893 save percentage at home, and 0-1-1 with a 3.72 GAA and .870 save percentage on the road.
Mason was very good in Saturday's 6-3 win over Carolina at the Wells Fargo Center.
Coach Dave Hakstol was asked if Mason is making his third straight start because of the way he is playing or because he wanted to get Mason into a rhythm.
"The way he's playing," he said. "There's no forethought in trying to get one guy going or the other guy going. He's played two real solid games. He got the win the other night, and it's more about how he played."
Overall, the Flyers are 12-5-3 in their last 20 games against the Canadiens. All five of those regulation losses were in Montreal.
Gudas ready.
Radko Gudas' six-game suspension will end tonight, and he will be eligible to play Tuesday against visiting Buffalo.
"Gudie obviously brings an element," Hakstol said of the burly defenseman's physicality. "If he is back in the lineup (Tuesday) - as with any player who has been away, whether it be for an injury or other reason - you have to keep your game simple (when you return) and be a very efficient player."
Gudas, who has been practicing with the team, said he has been counting down the days until he is eligible to return.
If Gudas returns to the lineup Tuesday, Nick Schultz could be the defenseman who sits, though he has been a solid performer. Schultz is plus-2 and leads the Flyers with 13 blocked shots.
Andrew MacDonald is also a candidate to sit.
Brandon Manning, who began the season as the No. 6 defenseman, has played extremely well and has been perhaps the team's most pleasant surprise. It would be a major surprise if Manning was benched.
Manning has a goal, and three assists, and he leads the team with a plus-5 rating and with 19 hits.
"It will be a tough decision, no question, if we're healthy," Hakstol said.
Breakaways.
The Flyers will use the same lineup that produced a 6-3 comeback win over Carolina on Saturday. ... Jake Voracek leads the Flyers with seven points, and Matt Read has a team-high five goals. ... The Flyers have allowed the first goal in the last four games. ... Dale Weise, who will serve the second game of his three-game suspension, will miss playing against his former team, Montreal. "But we play here again in two weeks, so I don't have to wait long," said Weise, who declined commenting on the second suspension of his career. ... Rookie left winger Travis Konecny on playing his first game in Montreal: "It's definitely exciting. I have family members who grew up as Habs fans, so it's going to be exciting to play here tonight against them. At the same time, it's just another game." Konecny has five assists in five games. ... Michael Del Zotto continues to make progress - he skated with the team Monday - and hopes to return from his knee injury in Montreal on Nov. 5, the first day he is eligible to come off the LTIR list.
Flyers goalie Steve Mason struggled on the road last season and has not reminded anyone of Bernie Parent in his two appearances away from the Wells Fargo Center this year.
But he will get another chance to engineer a road win Monday night when the Flyers face the 4-0-1 Canadiens at the Bell Centre.
Last season, Mason was outstanding at home, compiling a 14-7-6 record, a 2.23 goals-against average, and a .926 save percentage.
"You're used to the boards, the bounces and the lighting and you're comfortable," he said.
On the road, he was 9-12-4 with a 2.84 GAA and .909 save percentage last season.
So far this season, Mason is 1-1 with a 3.04 GAA and .893 save percentage at home, and 0-1-1 with a 3.72 GAA and .870 save percentage on the road.
Mason was very good in Saturday's 6-3 win over Carolina at the Wells Fargo Center.
Coach Dave Hakstol was asked if Mason is making his third straight start because of the way he is playing or because he wanted to get Mason into a rhythm.
"The way he's playing," he said. "There's no forethought in trying to get one guy going or the other guy going. He's played two real solid games. He got the win the other night, and it's more about how he played."
Overall, the Flyers are 12-5-3 in their last 20 games against the Canadiens. All five of those regulation losses were in Montreal.
Gudas ready.
Radko Gudas' six-game suspension will end tonight, and he will be eligible to play Tuesday against visiting Buffalo.
"Gudie obviously brings an element," Hakstol said of the burly defenseman's physicality. "If he is back in the lineup (Tuesday) - as with any player who has been away, whether it be for an injury or other reason - you have to keep your game simple (when you return) and be a very efficient player."
Gudas, who has been practicing with the team, said he has been counting down the days until he is eligible to return.
If Gudas returns to the lineup Tuesday, Nick Schultz could be the defenseman who sits, though he has been a solid performer. Schultz is plus-2 and leads the Flyers with 13 blocked shots.
Andrew MacDonald is also a candidate to sit.
Brandon Manning, who began the season as the No. 6 defenseman, has played extremely well and has been perhaps the team's most pleasant surprise. It would be a major surprise if Manning was benched.
Manning has a goal, and three assists, and he leads the team with a plus-5 rating and with 19 hits.
"It will be a tough decision, no question, if we're healthy," Hakstol said.
Breakaways.
The Flyers will use the same lineup that produced a 6-3 comeback win over Carolina on Saturday. ... Jake Voracek leads the Flyers with seven points, and Matt Read has a team-high five goals. ... The Flyers have allowed the first goal in the last four games. ... Dale Weise, who will serve the second game of his three-game suspension, will miss playing against his former team, Montreal. "But we play here again in two weeks, so I don't have to wait long," said Weise, who declined commenting on the second suspension of his career. ... Rookie left winger Travis Konecny on playing his first game in Montreal: "It's definitely exciting. I have family members who grew up as Habs fans, so it's going to be exciting to play here tonight against them. At the same time, it's just another game." Konecny has five assists in five games. ... Michael Del Zotto continues to make progress - he skated with the team Monday - and hopes to return from his knee injury in Montreal on Nov. 5, the first day he is eligible to come off the LTIR list.
