Before Friday night, Steve Mason had an utterly forgettable playoff history.
You may recall the Columbus Blue Jackets’ brief playoff appearance in 2009 and you might remember Mason’s struggles in their opening-round series against the Detroit Red Wings.
But sports are all about what you’ve done for us lately and that series against the Wings was five years ago. Plus, after Mason’s performance Friday, there is little reason to discuss anything he did in Columbus.
Mason stopped 37 of 38 shots — and 33 straight shots after allowing Dominic Moore’s first-period goal — in the Flyers’ 2-1 series-evening win at the Wells Fargo Center to earn his first career playoff victory.
“It was a lot of fun to get back out there in this atmosphere,” Mason said post-game. “Wells Fargo Center is second to none in my opinion. To play in front of that kind of a crowd, it’s hard to describe.”
Mason exited with an upper-body injury during the Flyers’ penultimate regular-season game in Pittsburgh. After missing the regular-season finale, then the first three games of this series, Mason made his first post-season start as a Flyer. He sported a career 4.15 goals-against average and .880 save percentage in five post-season appearances.
He showed some rust early, particularly during Moore’s first-period goal in which Mason was slow to react to Moore’s wraparound that put New York ahead. Mason’s rebound control was especially spotty in the first period, though he did stop 15 shots in the frame, allowing his club to stay in the game despite being thoroughly outplayed.
“I hadn’t played in two weeks or so, it was good to feel the puck right away,” Mason said, adding, “make some saves, gain some confidence and carry that forward through the game.”
Mason appeared to get stronger. He made his best save late in the second with a lunging stop on Ryan McDonagh — who was hooked by Matt Read on the play. On the subsequent power play, he confidently kicked out McDonagh’s point shot at the start of the third.
I spoke with Mason earlier in the year and he lauds goaltending coach Jeff Reese, who has worked with him to use his size and six-foot-four frame to his benefit. You’ll notice he shows signs of susceptibility when he’s on the ice but is confident and has better success while he’s up.
Mason further credited Reese post-game about the work they did together about the Rangers’ dangerous game from behind the net.
“Reeser and I have been working on with my post work and making up you close up tight and that paid off tonight,” Mason said.
His play should give the Flyers confidence in their goaltending — a constant subject of discontent in the city. Philadelphia sapped about as much out of Ray Emery as it could have expected in the first three games and on home ice in a must-win game, the Flyers’ starter did everything goalies are supposed to this time of the year.
In fact, Mason even fit the tough-minded Philadelphia mentality, throwing a one-two combination of punches at Rangers forward Benoit Pouliot in the third period.
If their goalie is playing like this, the Flyers are more dangerous to steal this series. Still, Mason is going to have to prove he’s capable to win at Madison Square Garden, where the series shifts on Sunday, particularly if defenseman Nick Grossmann — who exited with an injury — can not go.
“We’ve got to play better,” Flyers coach Craig Berube said. “We won game two there, … and we know we can win a game there, and that’s huge.”
Mason will also have to prepare to face a desperate Rangers squad — one who thinks they did not make things difficult enough on the Flyers netminder.
“There’s always more when it’s 2-1,” Rangers forward Brad Richards said. “But he made some big saves.”
But, with the born-again goalie, in the city that’s waited nearly 40 years for the title to return, Mason appreciates just how special it’d be for him to get hot and lead the club to glory.
“These people have waited a long time,” Mason said. “We’d like to be the team to bring it to them.”
