Philadelphia Flyers: What Was Coach Dave Hakstol Thinking?

Philadelphia Flyers head coach Dave Hakstol has shown little faith in Steve Mason. Hakstol’s lack of confidence in the goaltender may have cost the Flyers a shot at the playoffs.

The Philadelphia Flyers skated into Toronto needing a win to re-establish themselves in the hunt for the final ticket to the playoff dance. As has often been the case in road contests and must-win situations this season, the Orange and Black could not deliver a victory.

The 4-2 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs does not close the door on the Flyers’ postseason chances, but the team’s margin for error is minimal-to-nonexistent. The Leafs currently occupy the final wild card slot, with the Flyers trailing four points behind them. Sandwiched between Toronto and Philadelphia are the Islanders and Lightning.

Returning to the playoffs will be a daunting task for this Flyers team. The challenge will be even greater if Flyers head coach Dave Hakstol does not immediately remedy a tremendous blind spot that has hampered his decision-making throughout the season.

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Namely, Hakstol must address his lack of trust in Steve Mason and his misplaced faith in the talents of Michal Neuvirth.

Perhaps Hakstol remains affected by last year’s playoff series against the Washington Capitals. As he fills in the lineup card, maybe Hakstol can’t shake the memory of the awful goal Mason conceded in Game 2. He must also have a hard time forgetting the stellar play of Neuvirth, who stood on his head during Games 4-6 and nearly stole the series for the Flyers.

Mason had spearheaded the Flyers’ incredible playoff push last season. Toward the end of the campaign, he was pressed into constant duty while Neuvirth nursed a lower-body injury. Mason started twelve games in a row and provided the solid goaltending the team required to clinch a playoff berth. However, Mason looked absolutely pedestrian in the playoffs. The Game 2 soft goal was the most convincing evidence of a goalie who had lost his mental edge.

Neuvirth, by contrast, entered the playoff series refreshed and recharged. He made 31 saves on 32 shots in a 2-1, Game 4 victory. In Game 5, Neuvirth recorded a 44-save shutout. It took an uncontested, point-blank shot from Capitals sniper Nicklas Backstrom to beat the Flyers’ netminder and end the Orange and Black’s season.

Simply put, Neuvirth was sensational during the 2016 playoffs. But that was then, and this is now.

And right now, at this point in the 2016-17 season, Steve Mason is the better goalie. After a poor outing from Neuvirth in the outdoor game against the Penguins, Mason was given a chance to play. He had been benched for the past six games, but Mason showed no signs of rust in a 33-save, 4-0 shutout against the Colorado Avalanche. He followed up that effort with a remarkable 39-save shootout win over the desperate Florida Panthers. Strong showings in an overtime loss to Washington and a convincing win over Buffalo ensued.

Nevertheless, Hakstol decided to pencil in Neuvirth’s name in a game the Flyers needed to win. One wonders, if the roles had been reversed, would Hakstol have ignored Neuvirth’s hot hand and gone with Mason in this pivotal contest? Anyone who has regularly watched the Philadelphia Flyers this season would highly doubt it.

Steve Mason earned the net. He should have kept it until his performance dictated a change. Hakstol’s lack of faith in Mason may not have caused the Flyers’ loss in Toronto, but it was certainly a contributing factor. Look no further than the third period, when Neuvirth allowed a weak shot from Mitch Marner to squeak between his pads. The goal increased the Flyers’ deficit to 3-1 and effectively erased their hopes for a win.

It was the kind of goal that, if Mason had allowed it, would have relegated him to the bench for the next five games.

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Ultimately, Hakstol must exorcise the ghosts of the 2016 playoffs and renew his confidence in Steve Mason. At the very least, Hakstol ought to allow Mason to operate with the same leash afforded to Neuvirth.

The Flyers’ dwindling shot at a playoff berth depends on it.

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Philadelphia Flyers: What Was Dave Hakstol Thinking?

By Tim Reilly | Mar 10, 2017

Philadelphia Flyers head coach Dave Hakstol has shown little faith in Steve Mason. Hakstol’s lack of confidence in the goaltender may have cost the Flyers a shot at the playoffs.