Mason ill; will back up Neuvirth
CALGARY - When the Flyers took the ice at the Scotiabank Saddledome for Thursday's morning skate, neither one of the two goalies on the ice had a catching glove on his right hand.
Steve Mason, who catches with his right hand, was back at the team hotel. The second goalie on the ice with Michal Neuvirth was Brendan Burke - son of former Flyer Sean Burke - who plays goalie for the WHL's Calgary Hitmen.
The team announced Mason was feeling under the weather but would be available for Thursday night's game against the Flames.
He'll back up Neuvirth.
Neuvirth (2-2, 2.13 GAA), is coming off a 45-save performance in Edmonton. His .939 save percentage is tied for third in the NHL.
Thursday night will be Neuvirth's seventh game and sixth start. He'll oppose Calgary's Karri Ramo (1-4, 4.43 GAA, .871 SV %).
Lines
With Sean Couturier (concussion) making his return to the lineup, the Flyers' lines get a little more balance.
Here's what the lines will look like Thursday night in Calgary:
Raffl - Giroux - Voracek
Read - Couturier - Simmonds
Umberger - Schenn - Lecavalier
VandeVelde - Laughton - White
Defense
Del Zotto - Streit
Schultz - Schenn
Manning - Gudas
Scratches
Sam Gagner, Davis Drewiske, Evgeny Medvedev
Slap shots
Flyers GM Ron Hextall said Thursday morning that Evgeny Medvedev (upper-body), who flew home Tuesday from Edmonton, will be out at least a couple more days. "Whether he comes to Winnipeg or not, I don't have an answer right now," Hextall said. Medvedev has completed all his testing, according to Hextall, and the injury does not appear to be serious... The Flyers called up defenseman Davis Drewiske Wednesday from Lehigh Valley to provide some depth for the rest of this road trip... Flyers prospect Travis Sanheim suffered an upper-body injury while playing for the Calgary Hitmen Wednesday night. Sanheim was at Flyers morning skate and said he wasn't sure how long he'd be out, but may miss the CHL Canada-Russia series, which begins on Monday. Radel Fazleev, also a Flyers prospect, scored his 10th goal for the Hitmen last night. Fazleev was also at Thursday's morning skate.