New York Rangers news: Ray Emery to start for the Flyers in Game 2
Steve Mason practiced on Saturday, but still will be unavailable when the Rangers and Flyers meet on Easter Sunday.
He took a few more steps toward making his first appearance in the playoffs, but we learned on Saturday that Steve Mason will again be out when the Rangers and Flyers meet up for Game 2 of their first round series on Sunday.
#NYR #PHI Steve Mason just declared himself out for Game 2. Will not be available to back up either
— Katie Strang (@KatieStrangESPN) April 19, 2014 Mason has been out since April 12, missing the last two Flyers games following a collision that forced him out of a game against Pittsburgh. Mason did not make the initial trip to New York with the Flyers for Thursday's Game 1, but traveled to New York and practiced Saturday, hoping to get his first crack at the series.
This, from Katie Strang's report on Mason's situation:
Berube said previously that Mason's health remains the top priority.
"We talked it over as an organization and he's not ready," Berube said in his post-practice press briefing.
Mason said he is still hoping to be back at some point in the series, with Game 3 his next target. Following Sunday's matinee, the series shifts back to Philadelphia for Game 3 at Wells Fargo Center on Tuesday.
It's interesting to note that Ray Emery will not only start Sunday's Game 2, but Mason again will not dress, making rookie Carl Heeter again Philadelhpia's backup. In two games against the Rangers this season, Emery is now 0-2 with eight goals allowed.
In Rangers news... there's not much to report. Alain Vigneault was mum on whether or not he'd make any adjustments to the lineup, but considering Thursday's result, it's hard to imagine he'd feel the need to.
