Goalie shortage could threaten momentum

PHILADELPHIA » The surging Flyers, two goaltenders included, will entertain the Montreal Canadiens Tuesday.

The question: Which two goaltenders?

Alex Lyon, who excelled in relief of Michal Neuvirth in a 7-4 victory over the Rangers Sunday in Madison Square Garden, is expected to start. The Flyers were unwilling to announce Monday whether Neuvirth will be the backup.

Chronically unavailable, usually due to injury, Neuvirth allowed three first-period goals Sunday on 14 New York shots. Lyon started the second period and finished the game, registering his first NHL win. It was the Flyers’ second consecutive victory and sixth in their last seven. The Flyers reported that Neuvirth had a lower-body injury.

The Flyers did not practice Monday. Early Monday evening, they formally announced that they would have no medical update on Neuvirth. It remains possible that Neuvirth could be stable enough to back up Lyon Tuesday.

Already, the Flyers are without Brian Elliott, who is on the injured-reserve list with a lower-body injury. The veteran is expected to miss at least another three weeks.

Should Neuvirth not be in uniform Tuesday, the Flyers would need to recall Dustin Tokarski from the Phantoms. Tokarski, 28, has 34 games of NHL experience since 2010 with Tampa Bay, Montreal and Anaheim. Another option would be for Ron Hextall to make a trade for a current NHL backup, a move that likely would cost him a premium price, given the Flyers’ straits.

Multiple reports are that the Red Wings, in a rebuilding mode, would move Petr Mrazek for valued draft choices. Mrazek, 25, is 188-7 with Detroit and would become a free agent at the end of the season. Hextall’s interest in such a rental goalie could be a function of Neuvirth’s projected readiness during Elliott’s absence.

Lyon, a 25-year-old product of Yale, has played in four games for the Flyers, starting two. An undrafted free agent, he had a 27-14 record last season in Lehigh Valley. He was 15-8-2 for the Phantoms this season.

With at least a point in each of their last eight games, the Flyers have matched the Devils’ 70 points, third most in the Metropolitan Division. The Canadiens have lost their last five.

The Flyers have not allowed a power play in either of their last two games, an NHL first since the implementation of full boxscore in 1977.

TOM MIHALEK — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS With Michal Neuvirth’s status unknown, Alex Lyon is expected to get the start in goal when the Flyers host the Montreal Canadiens Tuesday night at the Wells Fargo Center.