PHILADELPHIA — If either of the Flyers’ two goalies had their druthers they’d face a few shots early in the game to get them into the flow.

Seems like a strange thing to call a “luxury,” but it’s one that Steve Mason and Michal Neuvirth haven’t had recently. In each of the last five games the Flyers have allowed eight shots or fewer in the first period.

“You know, I got kind of used to it on this homestand, not to face a lot of shots,” Neuvirth said after making 23 saves in Saturday’s 2-1 overtime win over San Jose. “For me, I was confident the whole game, feeling good. I didn’t watch the shot board at all. I was just focusing on myself and doing my job.”

Neuvirth played in four of the five games in the homestand and that may be a sign of things to come.

His health is what has kept him from getting a shot at being a legitimate No. 1 in the NHL. Flyers general manager Ron Hextall has said that Neuvirth’s injury history gives him pause when he considers which of the two pending free agent goalies — or perhaps neither — he intends to re-sign.

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