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Mason could be workhorse with Neuvirth out

Flyers goaltender Michal Neuvirth will miss 7 to 10 days with a lower body injury.

Starting Tuesday, the Flyers will play six games in the next 10 days, and because of an injury to goalie Michal Neuvirth, Steve Mason might play in all six.

The Flyers announced Tuesday that Neuvirth -- the league leader with a .933 save percentage and arguably the team's MVP in the first 48 games -- would miss seven to 10 days with a lower-body injury. They recalled AHL all-star Anthony Stolarz from the Phantoms, but coach Dave Hakstol made it sound as if Mason would get all the starts.

Mason, who is returning from a lower-body injury of his own, said he wants to play in all of them.

"It's not like I've been overtaxed this year," he said after Tuesday's morning skate at the Wells Fargo Center, "so I should have plenty of energy to play as many as games they need me to. Like I said yesterday, this is the stretch of our season that will make or break us, and I want to be a big part of it."

The Flyers, five points out of a playoff spot but with games in hand on the five teams they need to pass, start the unofficial second half of the season Tuesday by hosting fading Montreal. That will start a month in which they play 15 games.

"We need to come out with a good start to this month of the season," Mason said.

Mason said he was feeling "OK" and had "no real issues" with his health. "I'm not overly concerned about it. We've done a good job managing it and it was fortunate the break happened when it happened and gave me a little bit of time. I'm just trying to prepare to play a lot of hockey."

Mason hasn't played since Jan. 21. Because of the all-star break, the Flyers will be playing their first game since Wednesday's 4-3 overtime win in Washington.

"If we didn't have those days off, it would have kept lingering and lingering," Mason said. "It was a nice break to have."

The solidly built 6-foot-6, 232-pound Stolarz grew up in Jackson, N.J. The 22-year-old goalie was 15-10-3 with the Phantoms and had a 2.45 GAA and .915 save percentage.

"I think he's come a long way since I first got here," Mason said. "Kids that are drafted, especially goaltenders, are pretty raw. He's worked hard to hone his game. By all accounts, he's had a great year in the AHL. ... That's a credit to him. I think he's got a ton of talent and a huge body, which you can't teach. I think he's probably going to have a bright future here."

Umberger sitting. Sean Couturier will return to the lineup, and R.J. Umberger will be a healthy scratch for just the second time this season. Umberger is goal-less in his last 50 games.

Voracek meets Carli. Jake Voracek was honored Monday by the Philadelphia Sports Writers Association as its most outstanding Philadelphia athlete for 2015.

"I loved it," he said. "I joked around with Larry Holmes all night, and I had a (autograph) signing with Carli Lloyd and she walked in and asked for a picture. I said, 'I was going to ask you for the same thing.' "

Breakaways. With Carey Price injured, goalie Mike Condon will start for Montreal. He is 13-13-4 with a 2.45 GAA and .904 save percentage. ... The Flyers are 11-5-2 in their last 18 games against the Canadiens. ... Michael Del Zotto was injured slightly in the morning skate but is expected to play Tuesday night. ... Mason on the three-on-three all-star tourney: "The league got the intensity that they wanted."