Michal Neuvirth will make his second straight start -- and first against his former team -- when Philly takes on Washington at Verizon tonight.
Neuvirth is getting the nod ahead of Steve Mason, who was held out of the contest due to a lower-body ailment. The injury was severe enough to keep Mason from backing up, as the Flyers recalled veteran Jason LaBarbera from AHL Lehigh Valley to serve as the No. 2.
“I just have great memories,” Neuvirth said of his six years in Washington, per NHL.com. “Really liked it here, but it’s the past and now I’m playing for the Flyers. I’m going to do my best tonight for the Flyers.”
Neuvirth, 27, is enjoying a really solid campaign in Philly, posting a 10-6-2 record with a .934 save percentage and 2.10 GAA. He’s coming off a 3-2 loss to Boston in which he made 28 saves.
For the Caps, Braden Holtby will be in goal.
Elsewhere...
-- One night after James Reimer was torched by the Panthers, Jonathan Bernier goes for the Leafs. He’ll be up against Andrei Vasilevskiy, who will give Ben Bishop the night off in Tampa Bay.
-- Karri Ramo will start for Calgary when the Flames host the Preds. No word yet on who Nashville will start, but it could be a Carter Hutton game after Pekka Rinne played extremely well in the Preds’ 2-1 win over Vancouver on Tuesday.
-- No definitive starters from either the Kings or Avs as the two prep to do battle in L.A. Calvin Pickard got the hook last night against the Sharks, so the team could go with AHLer Roman Will tonight. L.A. is likely to start Jonathan Quick.