Neuvirth in line to be No. 1 goaltender next season
Maybe this was why Ron Hextall called Michal Neuvirth’s name when the free agent bidding wars got underway last July 1. He knew Neuvirth was a goaltending leader of an OHL championship junior team in Plymouth, Mich. in 2007, and had backstopped the Hershey Bears to consecutive AHL Calder Cup titles in 2009 and 2010.
That other stuff about how Neuvirth might be a touch injury prone, which is believed to be the reason why he hasn’t been a top NHL goaltender in recent years?
Well, that’s why Hextall only had to commit a 2-year, $3.25 million contract for a guy that came in as a backup ... but perhaps still possessed the talent of a playoff savior.
“You look at everything,” Hextall said of assessing a potential free agent. “He’s got a good resume and we liked him. You look at our holes we have to fill, and Michal was on the top of our list.”
Now after two standout performances which has kept the Flyers alive in their firstround playoff series with the Washington Capitals, Neuvirth might stand to be making a strong case for himself for next summer, when the needs assessments for next season are bartered about.
While supposed starter Steve Mason averages out to a $4.1 million annual hit — like Neuvirth, his deal expires after next season — Neuvirth might be in line to be considered as a primary candidate to be re-upped to a more lucrative, starter-level contract.
It would make for a very intriguing offseason scenario that might see some shuffling in the organizational goaltending ranks.
Oh, but first, there’s a playoff series that needs to be survived, beginning with Game 6 Sunday (12 noon start) at Wells Fargo Center.
For Neuvirth, however, it began with a rusty first period of Game 4. It was only the second game in which he was playing in a month’s time, thanks to a late-season meniscus injury in his knee. But he survived that period, grew strong in the second period, and rode herd to 31 saves and a 2-1 Flyers win.
That didn’t prepare anyone for what took place Friday night in Washington, however, as Neuvirth was simply on anotherplane,making44savesfor a 2-0 shutout victory in Game 5.
“It was going my way,” he said Saturday. “It was one of those games that was a really good game. Wasn’t just me, it was the whole team. We battled hard and it was a big win.”
That it came in his old Verizon Center stomping grounds played no part, Neuvirth claimed. Even with a lot of old friends on the other side.
“It’s still NHL playoffs,” he said. “I would be motivated (just as much) if we were playing somebody else. I like playing under pressure. I know I can play good in the playoffs, I’m just playing with confidence and a belief in myself, and I trust what I do.”
As for now, the trust between Neuvirth and his teammates is mutual.
“Obviously our goaltending last night was out of this world,” defenseman Nick Schultz said. “It’s nice to get that and have Neuvy steal a game for us. Now we have to focus on our game and really come out with a strong start tomorrow.”
••• Hextall recognized a great goaltending peformance when he saw one. Asked if it was reminiscent of a couple of performances he put together en route to a Cup Finals appearance against Edmonton in 1987, Hextall said, “That was a hundred years ago, Neuvy’s is today. He was terrific. He was on his game, he was focused. He was a really calming influence. We did not start to panic last night and in the past we have and I think Nevuy had something to do with that.”
Thatsaid,Hextallwasn’thappy about the lack of support he saw from Neuvirth’s teammates.
“The guy in the net was outstanding, but other than that we have to be better,” Hextall said. “I don’t think anybody is kidding themselves to think that we should have won last night. But we did win and we’re going to move on and we have to win tomorrow. But we need a better effort from our group.”