Neuvirth will start Flyers' opener; Mason to get nod Saturday

LOS ANGELES - Goalie Michal Neuvirth will start the Flyers' season opener in Los Angeles Friday night, and Steve Mason will get the nod in Arizona on Saturday night.

"I'm really excited. The season is about to begin and it's a new start for everybody," said Neuvirth, who had a career season in 2015-16 but was outplayed by Mason in the recently completed preseason. "I can't wait until they drop the puck."

Because of festivities surrounding the Kings' home opener and their 50th anniversary season, the game will start at 10:56 p.m. Philadelphia time.

Neuvirth and Mason are both in the final seasons of their contracts and are playing for extensions.

Getting the opening-night start "means a lot. It's a huge game. The first game of the season, we want to start on the right track," Neuvirth said after Friday's morning skate at the Staples Center.

Neuvirth also started season openers in 2010 and 2011 while with Washington.

The Kings began their season with a 2-1 loss in San Jose on Wednesday.

"They're a big team and I'll have to battle hard to see the puck," Neuvirth said. "There's going to be traffic the whole time, so you just have to be focused and fight for the puck."

Mason  said he would have "liked to have played" in the opener, "but it's the coach's decision and I'm not going to let it affect me."

He will start Saturday against the Coyotes.

"That's basically the approach I'm taking this year - one game at a time - and whatever happens along the way, I'm going to do my best to keep an even mindset and just try to be real focused this year," Mason said.

Whichever goalie plays better will probably get the start Tuesday in Chicago.

Lineup set. Here is the lineup the Flyers will use Friday:

* Claude Giroux centering Michael Raffl and Wayne Simmonds.

* Sean Couturier centering Travis Konecny and Jake Voracek.

* Pierre-Edouard Bellemare centering Nick Cousins and Dale Weise.

* Boyd Gordon centering Chris VandeVelde and Matt Read.

* Defense: Shayne Gostisbehere and Andrew MacDonald; Ivan Provorov and Mark Streit; Nick Schultz and Brandon Manning.

* Goalie: Neuvirth.

Breakaways. Konency and Provorov, 19-year-old rookies, said they both slept well Thursday, the night before their NHL debuts. Konency: "It's big for my family and friends, and everyone back home is really excited - and I'm definitely excited. But I'm trying to treat it just like another game. It hasn't really hit me yet. I'm not too nervous, but I'm sure it'll come around at game time."......Neuvirth has a 2.18 career GAA vs. the Kings, while Mason's is at 2.83.....Coach Dave Hakstol hinted that rookie winger Roman Lyubimov, who had an outstanding preseason, will make his NHL debut Saturday.....Brayden Schenn will miss the first three games because of a suspension. He will not face his former team (L.A.), his brother Luke's team (Arizona) or Chicago. "It's not fun sitting out and doing bag skates and extra work," he said. "It'll all be over Tuesday and I'm looking forward to playing some hockey and joining the guys again."....Hakstol on the morning skate: "I liked our focus. In some cases, I thought we were maybe a little tight out there. But guys look focused, guys look ready."