VOORHEES - Flyers starting goalie Steve Mason would like to play 60 games this season. General manager Ron Hextall vowed that new backup Michal Neuvirth would “play more than that typical backup.”

Something there probably has to give.

“I’ve been in this league for a long time,” the 27-year-old Neuvirth said Monday night after his Flyers debut. “Season’s long, and things change very quick. For me, I’ve just got to be prepared for every opportunity I get.”

That sounds like someone who is looking to push Mason, the incumbent starter, for some starts. Last season Mason, 27, played 51 games and would have played more were it not for back and knee injuries. Two seasons ago, his first full campaign with the Flyers, he played 61.

In each of those seasons, Mason’s backup was Ray Emery, who is now in Tampa on a tryout with the Lightning. Emery, who turns 33 next week, had his lowest save percentage (.894) and highest goals-against average (3.08) last season since the 2007-08 campaign, when he had .890 and 3.13 respectively.

He wasn’t exactly pushing Mason, but a new goalie partner apparently doesn’t scare the goalie who wears his teammates as zombies on his mask.

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