Flyers' Mason ready to return; Bellemare injury not serious
GLENDALE, Ariz. - Goalie Steve Mason, one of the Flyers' best players this season, says he is ready to return to the lineup Monday in Arizona.
Coach Craig Berube is leaning toward giving him the start, saying there's a "good chance" Mason will return against the Coyotes (13-18-4) .
Mason has missed the last four games with a back injury Among goalies who have made at least 20 starts this season, he is tied for ninth with a .921 save percentage.
The Flyers (14-15-6) are 3-1 on their eight-game road trip.
Bellemare injured. Pierre-Edouard Bellemare was injured at practice Sunday in Glendale, Ariz., and left the ice early.
Used as a fourth-line center and penalty killer, Bellemare appeared to injure his left arm when he crashed into the boards. Afterward, Bellemare said he planned to play Monday.
If Bellemare plays, Berube will have to choose between Zac Rinaldo or Chris VandeVelde as his fourth-line left wing. Rinaldo appears to have recovered from an upper-body injury.
Murphy vs. Murphy. Connor Murphy, a 6-foot-4, 212-pound defenseman who was the Coyotes' first-round pick (20th overall) in 2011, will oppose his father, Gord, a Flyers' assistant. The younger Murphy wears No. 5 because that was the number his dad wore when he played in the NHL.
In 30 games this season, Murphy, 21, has five points and is minus-5.
Numbers Dept. With 47 games remaining, the Flyers are eight points out of a playoff spot
The Flyers and Edmonton are the only NHL teams without a shootout win this season. The Flyers are 0-5, the Oilers are 0-2.
Breakaways
. Winger Jake Voracek leads the NHL in points (46) and assists (32).....Defenseman Keith Yandle leads the Coyotes with 23 points….Arizona is averaging just 2.26 goals per game (26th in the NHL), while the Flyers are averaging 2.80 goals per game (14th). The Flyers are allowing 2.86 goals per game (23d), and Arizona is surrendering 3.17 (26th)....In one-goal games, the Flyers are 5-6-6, and Arizona is 9-4-4....On Sunday, Arizona recalled 6-3, 209-pound forward Tyler Gaudet from AHL Portland, where the 21-year-old had eight points in 29 games....Arizona, winners of two straight, has been outscored by a whopping 31 goals, the third-highest figure in the NHL entering Sunday.
Follow Sam Carchidi on Twitter @BroadStBull.