Flyers goalie Steve Mason, right, reacts as Rangers winger Carl Hagelin, middle, attempts a backhand shot.
Credit: Getty Images
Steve Mason stopped 38 shots and the Flyers beat the New York Rangers, 4-2, at Wells Fargo Center on Tuesday night to keep their slim playoff chances alive.
Mason made 16 of his 38 saves in the third period, when the Rangers, also desperate for points in the final days of the NHL’s regular season, carried the play.
The Flyers (19-21-3) took a 3-1 lead into the third period. Brayden Schenn and Erik Gustafsson scored in the first period and Kimmo Timonen in the second to get the Flyers out to the lead.
The Rangers (21-17-4) got a goal from Derek Stepan 7:28 into the third period to pull the Rangers to within one goal.
Jakub Voracek’s empty-net goal with less than 15 seconds to play sealed the win for the Flyers, who are eight points behind the Rangers for the eighth playoff seed with just five games to play.
It appeared Mason was going to be relieved by Ilya Bryzgalov in the third period when play was stopped as Mason went to the ground in apparent pain. He later said he was experiencing leg cramps.
