Mason starts again; Flyers' PK faces NHL's top PP unit

Goalie Steve Mason, coming off a 4-0 shutout of the Islanders on Saturday, will make his third straight start Wednesday when the Flyers host Zac Rinaldo and the sagging Boston Bruins at 8 p.m.

The Flyers (18-15-7) have won three in a row and five consecutive home games. They will begin the night four points behind Boston (21-15-5) for the Eastern Conference's last wild-card spot.

Boston has lost four of its last five games, including Monday's 2-1 defeat to the Rangers at Madison Square Garden.

The game will match the Bruins' league-leading power-play unit against the Flyers' inconsistent penalty kill. The Flyers' PK is tied for 23d in the league with a 78.7 percent success rate, but they have killed their last 11.

Boston has converted a staggering 28.1 percent of its power plays; the Flyers have converted just 15.8 percent, tied for 28th in the NHL.

"It's a big challenge and they're going at a great rate," Flyers coach Dave Hakstol said of the Bruins after today's morning skate at the Wells Fargo Center. "They're not just doing it in the short-term; they're the top PP in the league for a reason. ... We'll prepare for some of the things they do, but at the end of the day, we have to go out and execute."

The Flyers say they will not be preoccupied trying to pay back ex-teammate Rinaldo for his hit that concussed Sean Couturier in their 5-4 overtime win in Boston on Oct. 21.

Rinaldo said it was strange to return to the WFC as an opponent.

"It's weird, but I have to make the most of it and have some fun tonight," he said.

Rinaldo reiterated he didn't mean to hurt Couturier and that he sent him a text message, apologizing for the injury.

"Hockey is hockey. It's physical and part of the game _ and hitting is part of the game," he said.  "Unfotunately, he got hurt on the play. I texted him immediately, as soon as I got kicked out....to make sure he was OK. The last thing I want to do is hurt anybody."

Rinaldo has one goal, two points, 63 penalty minutes, and a minus-7 rating in 34 games.

Schultz' milestone. Defenseman Nick Schultz tonight will become the 301st NHL player (and 101st defenseman) to play in 1,000 career games out of over 7,000 who have been in the NHL.

Breakaways. Tonight is the Flyers' 41st game and marks the halfway point of their season. Wayne Simmonds called goalies Michal Neuvirth and Steve Mason the team's first-half MVPs. Neuvirth (9-5-2, 2,12 GAA, .934 save percentage) got lots of votes from his teammates. ....Tuukka Rask will start for Boston, which is missing injured cenetr David Krejci.....Shayne Gostisbehere is still sidelined for the Flyers.....In the Oct. 21 matchup, the Flyers overcame a 4-2 third-period deficit and won it on Claude Giroux's OT goal. Giroux has one goal in his last 11 games, but still leads the Flyers with 12 goals. ... Hakstol said he didn't want to name a first-half MVP: "It's a team game. I don't even think of that stuff."