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Neuvirth earns a start after saving the day for Flyers

Michal Neuvirth

Philadelphia Flyers’ Michal Neuvirth celebrates after Vancouver Canucks’ Loui Eriksson failed to score during a shoutout of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Jan. 12, 2017, in Philadelphia. Philadelphia won 5-4. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

AP

Expect Michal Neuvirth to get the start tomorrow afternoon in Boston.

He earned it last night.

Neuvirth gave the Flyers exactly what they needed after he replaced Steve Mason to begin the third period. At the time, the Flyers were trailing, 4-3. They ended up winning, 5-4, in the shootout.

Neuvirth stopped all 14 shots he faced in regulation and overtime. He then went three-for-three in the breakaway competition, which featured only one goal, by Claude Giroux.

The victory was just the second for the Flyers in their last nine games. Neuvirth’s record improved to 6-2-0 on the season -- a pretty incredible mark considering his save percentage is just .876.

"(Mason) would probably admit there’s probably one more save he can make, but at least equal or more than that, it was time to make a change for our team,” head coach Dave Hakstol said afterwards. "(Neuvirth) went in and did a good job.”

As for Mason, well, let’s just say January hasn’t been his best month. In five starts, he’s allowed 16 goals on 127 shots for an .874 save rate.

“At the end of the day I just have to be better,” Mason said, per the Burlington County Times. “I am struggling right now and have to find ways to get back. Overall, I am just not happy with where the game is at right now. I have to find ways to work through this and like I said, to get back to where I normally can be.”