Mason on top of his game as Flyers season nears opener

There was a bit of irony in the Flyers' 2014-15 season: Goaltending, a position that has frequently been the franchise's downfall, became its strength.

But Steve Mason's career season got masked - and wasted - because of the Flyers' offensive and defensive weaknesses, causing them to miss the playoffs for the second time in three years.

Mason, coming off a year in which he had the league's third-best save percentage (.928), will headline a goaltending duo that, because of the addition of backup Michal Neuvirth, should be stronger than last season.

In the recently completed preseason, Mason looked in midseason form.

"I'm feeling really happy with where my game's at," he said.

"He's just tracking the puck really well," Flyers winger R.J Umberger said.

Umberger, who was Mason's teammate in Columbus when the goalie broke into the league in 2008-09, said the Ontario native's "work ethic is the best I've ever seen. He gets mad when you score a goal on him, something I've never seen in him before. He's like [Sergei] Bobrovsky used to be in practice. So competitive. He finishes every drill, whether it's a one-shot drill or not, he's moving to get the rebound even if it's not part of the drill. That's something I've noticed that has changed in him."

As for Neuvirth, a free-agent signee who spent last season with Buffalo and the Islanders, he says he has recovered from an undisclosed injury suffered last week. Neuvirth, who has replaced the fading Ray Emery, won three AHL titles earlier in his career, and he has a seven-year NHL record of 66-63-17 with a 2.73 goals-against average and a .912 save percentage.

Neuvirth's best season was in 2010-11 with the Capitals: a 27-12-4 record with a 2.45 GAA and a .914 save percentage.

"We really like his pedigree, and we think he's going to give us a real solid one-two with Mase," general manager Ron Hextall said. "How many games he plays, who knows? But I think he's going to make an impact for us."

Mason, one of the locker-room leaders, wants to play 60-some games.

"If the health is there and the consistency in my game is there," he said early in training camp, "I don't see why there would be an issue why I shouldn't be playing that."

Because of injuries, Mason was limited to 51 games last season. He had 60 percent of the meniscus removed from his right knee during surgery Feb. 10 and returned to the lineup Feb. 26.

Mason had a 2.25 goals-against average last season and owned the league's best save percentage (.944) in five-on-five situations. He didn't rest on his laurels. Mason came to camp early to work with new goalie coach Kim Dillabaugh and Neuvirth.

"It was good to come in and start to build relationships," Mason said.

In the summer, Mason worked with goalie coach Dave Franco in Ontario. Mason had seen how much Franco had helped former Flyer Rob Zepp, so he signed up with him for the first time.

"I think it gave me a solid base coming into camp," Mason said. "It gave me a boost to pick up where I left off."

Between that and his pre-camp work with Dillabaugh, Mason looked razor sharp in the preseason.

Mason "has become a pro," said Hextall, a former goalie. "He's obviously in better shape than he was earlier in his career."

Neuvirth is a solid insurance policy if Mason is rested or injured.

"Mase is a great goaltender, and I think I'm going to make him even better," Neuvirth said. "I think we'll help each other."

"We'll push each other," Mason agreed.

Mason is ready for the difficult opener Thursday in Tampa against the defending Eastern Conference champion Lightning.

"We could have been better throughout the preseason, but we still have a few days to get ready for our opener," Mason said. "We just have to make sure this week we put in a lot of quality work."

Their goalie will be leading the way.

scarchidi@phillynews.com

@BroadStBull