Mason's 'personal family matter' nets Flyers' Neuvirth start vs. Panthers

By foxsports
Published

Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Michal Neuvirth will start Monday's home opener against the Florida Panthers in lieu of Steve Mason tending to a "personal family matter."

Flyers general manager Ron Hextall made the announcement on Mason's absence during the team's morning skate.

Mason yielded four goals on eight shots before being pulled early in the first period of Philadelphia's eventual 7-1 setback to Florida on Saturday. The 27-year-old Ontario native is 0-1-1 with a 6.12 goals-against average and .825 save percentage in two games this season after posting an 18-18-11 mark with three shutouts and a 2.25 GAA in 2014-15.

Neuvirth allowed three goals on 22 shots in relief of Mason on Saturday. The 27-year-old, who owns a 3-7-2 career mark versus the Panthers, split his time with the Buffalo Sabres and New York Islanders over the previous two campaigns and sports a 66-63-17 record with seven shutouts and a 2.74 goals-against average.