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Flyers' Mason has numbers that demand respect

Despite his gaudy numbers, Flyers goalie Steve Mason doesn't get much respect. Last season, Mason finished third in the NHL in save percentage (.928) and sixth in goals-against average (2.25) among goalies who played at least half of their teams' games. In five-on-five play, he led the league with a .944 save percentage.

Despite his gaudy numbers, Flyers goalie Steve Mason doesn't get much respect.

Last season, Mason finished third in the NHL in save percentage (.928) and sixth in goals-against average (2.25) among goalies who played at least half of their teams' games. In five-on-five play, he led the league with a .944 save percentage.

And, yet . . .

Several national publications rank the 27-year-old Mason in the middle of the league's goalie pack, apparently disregarding the above numbers and fixating on his 18-18-11 overall record.

"Maybe outside of Philadelphia," Flyers general manager Ron Hextall said when asked if he thought Mason was underappreciated. "I think people here realize what a good job he has done for us."

Especially at home. Mason went 16-6-5 with a 2.01 goals-against average and .937 save percentage at the Wells Fargo Center last season. On the road, he got little scoring support and had just a 2-12-6 record, with a 2.56 GAA and .914 save percentage.

There are areas in which Mason can improve. He has struggled on breakaways, and he was not strong in overtimes and shootouts in 2014-15.

Last season, he went 1-4 in overtime games and 2-7 in shootouts. Part of the blame for the shootout losses goes to the Flyers' poor shooting in the breakaway competition. But Mason had just a .595 save percentage in shootouts, placing him just 26th in the NHL among goalies who faced at least 20 attempts.

- Sam Carchidi