Do the Flyers Have a Goalie Problem Again?

One of the reasons that the Flyers’ run to the playoffs last season was possible was that when one of their goalies faltered the other picked up the slack.

It was a perceived strength heading into this season, and so far it’s been a big weakness. The Flyers had the league’s second-worst save percentage at .866.

Who was the worst? That would be the Carolina Hurricanes, whom the Flyers defeated by one goal Sunday night, with a .864 save percentage.

“From a personal standpoint it’s not a great showing,” Steve Mason after he was pulled from the Flyers’ loss Saturday to the Pittsburgh Penguins. “(Especially) when the coach goes back to you the other night as well.”

Dave Hakstol has made three in-game goalie switches in 10 games. Each time it appeared to get the rise out of the skaters he was looking for because in all three cases the starting goalie had no decision, meaning the Flyers at least came back to tie after the switch.

In that Pittsburgh game Saturday, Hakstol said the Flyers needed “one more (save) in the first period,” before pulling Mason.

Neuvirth’s season hasn’t inspired confidence, either.

97.3 ESPN - CONTINUE READING