Kyle Phillippi
To ride the hot hand or not to ride the hot hand?
With Michal Neuvirth essentially being a brick wall in front of the Philadelphia Flyers net with back-to-back shutouts, first-year head coach Dave Hakstol had the task of deciding whether to stick with what’s working or give Steve Mason — the goaltender of the now and the future — his spot back.
Hakstol kept it tight to the vest the past five days as he wouldn’t infer any decision he had made up until Tuesday’s morning skate in which it was Mason that was taking the reps at morning skate in the “starters net,” a confirmation that he’ll be the one in net against Dallas Stars.
It makes a ton of sense for Mason, who missed time dealing with some serious family matters, to make his first start since allowing four goals in 6:46 in Florida with the support of the home crowd behind him at the Wells Fargo Center.
The Flyers and Stars will face-off at 7:30 p.m. on the NBC Sports Network.