Dave Isaac

@davegisaac

VOORHEES — The end to Steve Mason’s season was just as embarrassing as the start was to the point where it’s easy to overlook the middle.

In his second game of the season he was so unfocused due to a family emergency that he allowed four goals on eight shots in less than seven minutes.

RESPECT THE GAME: Capitals give Flyers a nod

In Game 2 of the playoffs, he allowed a shot to go in from center ice. He was replaced by Game 4.

“Individually it wasn’t an easy year, especially with the way the season started for me personally,” Mason said. “It took a while to mentally overcome. Then obviously there was some ups and downs in playing. I think the last few months of the season I played some really strong hockey and I was happy with the way that the regular season ended and obviously getting into the playoffs was a big thing. It’s not the way I wanted playoffs to end, but I’m not gonna judge my season based off two outings which were obviously at an unfortunate time.”

Mason carried the Flyers down the stretch and into the playoffs with a 2.14 goals-against average and .923 save percentage in the final two months of the season, most of it with his cohort, Michal Neuvirth, on the shelf with a knee injury.

Before he got hurt the most recent time — injuries have been the story of his career — Neuvirth was having his best season ever and led the league in save percentage for a good portion of the campaign.

“I had a lot of good games and I was consistent enough,” Neuvirth said. “I gave up four goals twice or three times. … I’m really happy with the way I played and the way I improved. It’s been a fun year.”

Now that it’s over, the question for next season becomes: Who is the top dog? Can a platoon work again?

“Mase has been good as well. I think it’s going to be open for anybody,” Neuvirth said. “My goal is to be a No. 1. That’s what I’m looking for.”

Mason played in 54 games this season to Neuvirth’s 32. It certainly wasn’t a 50/50 split, but it also wasn’t the situation that most NHL teams have where the starting goalie plays 65 or 70 games. Mason only missed one game due to injury, so it wasn’t out of necessity that Neuvirth got so much time.

“Neuvy came in and he had an unbelievable year,” Mason said. “All the credit to him. He deserved the ice time that he got and as a goalie you want to play every game, but sometimes you’ve just got to accept the fact that a guy has come in and earned his ice time. Moving forward, next year is an entirely new season and both of us have to earn the ice time.”

What’s fresh in everyone’s mind is the performance of Neuvirth in the playoffs and that he allowed two goals on 105 shots in three postseason games against the NHL’s best team.

Can it work again next year?

“It worked out great,” Neuvirth said of the season split with Mason. “I wished I played more games. When I played, I think was I pretty good.

“I never look at myself as a backup. I saw a good opportunity (in signing with the Flyers). I’ve been moving a lot the last couple of years. I knew Jake (Voracek) and (Radko Gudas, two fellow natives of the Czech Republic). That was one of the biggest reasons I signed here.”

Flyers general manager Ron Hextall was steadfast heading into the trade deadline that even though he had two goalies playing well, he didn’t want to trade either one. With the free-agent market lacking in big forwards, which is the Flyers’ biggest need, it’s possible that he deviates from that plan, but the goalies seem to think they can put egos aside next year and split the work again.

With both Mason and Neuvirth in the last years of their contract next season, there will be an extra emphasis.

For Neuvirth, the biggest question to answer is whether he can stay healthy. He mentioned Tuesday that he would be interested in representing the Czech Republic in the World Championships in Russia, but “I’ve got to clear the medicals first.”

“I’ve got to find a way to stay healthy,” Neuvirth said. “Maybe change up some new program in the summer. I talked to Hexy and promised him I’m going to come back in the best shape of my life.”

For Mason, it’s an opportunity to put himself back on the map in a contract year after resurrecting his career with the Flyers. In his first year coming over from Columbus, he said he was ready to quit had the Flyers not taken him from the Blue Jackets’ scrap heap.

“I think over the course of the summer I’m going to prepare to be a No. 1 guy,” he said. “Nothing is given. Nothing was given this year. Both of us had to earn playing time so I think I’ll just go into next season not expecting to be given anything and having to come in and earn everything.”

Dave Isaac; (856) 486-2479;disaac@gannettnj.com.