Who will be Flyers' No. 1 goalie?

Steve Mason and Michal Neuvirth both want to be the Flyers' No. 1 goalie next season, which will make an interesting subplot when training camp opens in September.

"Over the course of the summer, I'm going to prepare to be a No. 1 guy," Mason said after the players cleared out their lockers at the team's Voorhees practice facility Tuesday. "Nothing is given. Nothing was given this year. Both of us had to earn playing time, so I go into next season not expecting to be given anything and having to come in and earn everything."

Mason (23-19-10) had to deal with some family issues and a minor injury this season. He carried the Flyers into the playoffs with a strong last month, finishing with a 2.51 goals-against average overall and .918 save percentage. But he struggled in his last two playoff games.

Neuvirth (18-8-4) had a career season with a 2.27 GAA and a .924 save percentage. He was lights-out in three playoff games: a 0.67 GAA and a staggering .981 save percentage.

Asked if he considered himself the team's No. 1 goalie because of his superb finish, Neuvirth said, "No, I can't say that. It's been a very good year. Mase has been good as well. I think it's going to be open for anybody. My goal is to be No. 1. That's what I'm looking for."

Injuries have plagued Neuvirth throughout his career.

"I've got to find a way to stay healthy," he said. "Maybe change up some program in the summer. I talked to [GM Ron Hextall] and promised him I'm going to come back in the best shape of my life."

Neuvirth, who said his friendship with fellow Czechs Jake Voracek and Radko Gudas played a big part in his signing with the Flyers last summer, plans to play a lot of tennis, use an exercise routine in a pool, and go through other offseason workouts.

Asked if he was planning to play in the world championships, he said, "I wish, but I've got to clear the medicals first."

Neuvirth and Mason will have a lot of motivation next season: They will be playing in the final year of their contracts.

The Flyers believe they made strides this season, but their six-game, opening-round loss to powerful Washington has left a "sour taste."

"Definitely not satisfied," rookie defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere said. "We wanted to push it to a Game 7 and eventually win the series and move on."

As he watches other playoff games on TV, Gostisbehere said, he gets a "should-have, could-have, would-have sort of feeling. I try to step away from the game for a little bit, not watch too much. Have a lot of hockey in my system. Right now there's still a sour taste in our mouth, and I'm not happy about it."

He paused.

"Got to move on, and take the positives from it," he decided.

Matt Read, who finished with 11 goals, conceded his season was filled with a "lot more times where my confidence level wasn't there." . . . Scott Laughton has recovered from hitting his head and neck into the boards in Game 4 and spending the night in the hospital. "It was scary for a lot of people, including myself," he said. "I really appreciate all the support from all the people who reached out." . . . Sean Couturier, who injured his shoulder in Game 1 and missed the rest of the series, said he probably would have played if there was a Game 7. . . . Jake Voracek admitted that his foot, injured late in the regular season, was not fully healed, "but that's not why I had only one point in the series." . . . R.J. Umberger said he expects to have his contract bought out.