Flyers' Steve Mason hopes to build off stellar performance

OTTAWA - After making a save during Thursday's morning skate, Flyers goalie Steve Mason appeared to tweak his leg or groin and left the ice, but a club spokesman said he is fine to play tonight in Ottawa.

Mason will try to build off an outstanding 45-save performance in Tuesday's 3-2 shootout win over visiting Boston. He allowed just one goal in nine shootout rounds.

In 14 career outings against Ottawa, Mason is 8-4-2 with a 2.10 goals-against average and .931 save percentage.

Mason left the arena and was not available to reporters.

Michal Neuvirth is sidelined with a knee injury, so rookie Anthony Stolarz is the backup.

Mason, who needs two wins to pass Pete Peeters for seventh on the Flyers' all-time win list, will oppose the blossoming Mike Condon (2-1, 1.76 GAA, .943 save percentage). Craig Anderson, Ottawa's No. 1 goalie, left the team to be with his wife, who is battling cancer.

Anderson (2.20 GAA, .930 save percentage) had started the previous six games, going 4-2 in that span.

Manning update. Defenseman Brandon Manning said he expects to be cleared by team doctors Friday and hopes to be available for Saturday's matinee against visiting Chicago.

Thursday will be the third straight game he has missed because of an upper-body injury.

"The last few days, I feel a lot better," he said after a one-hour practice session Thursday.

In 21 games, Manning has three goals, nine points, and a plus-1 rating.

Breakaways. The Flyers had just six players at their optional morning skate: Mason, Stolarz, Manning, Scott Laughton, Boyd Gordon, and Nick Schultz.....Gordon, who hasn't played since Oct. 29, said he is healthy enough to play. "It's hard sitting out and watching. It's the worst part of hockey," he said......Claude Giroux confirmed that he is engaged....Because of weather-related issues, the Flyers' flight Wednesday landed in Buffalo before going to Ottawa....Ivan Provorov is averaging 20 minutes, 16 seconds per game, which is second on the Flyers to Shayne Gostisbehere (20:55) and fifth among NHL rookies....Ottawa's Bobby Ryan (Cherry Hill) has a bone bruise on his right hand and is unable to shoot; he is out indefinitely.....Wayne Simmonds has four points over his last three games.....Temple's Henry Burris, the 41-year-old quarterback who was the MVP as Ottawa won the Canadian Football League's Grey Cup by beating Calgary, will be among the players honored before tonight's game.