Mason Gets First Flyers Shutout in 5-0 Win Over Senators

By Sean Farrell, Flyers.com 

OTTAWA — Steve Mason made 24 saves for his first shutout with the Philadelphia Flyers, and Jakub Voracek scored twice in the second period in a 5-0 win against the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday.

Mason recorded the 20th shutout of his career, his first in 20 games with the Flyers, who acquired him from the Columbus Blue Jackets in a trade in April.

Mason had not blanked an opponent since Mar. 1, 2012, when he made 33 saves for Columbus in a 2-0 win against the Colorado Avalanche.

Brayden Schenn and Vincent Lecavalier each had a goal and an assist in the third, and Matt Read scored in the first for the Flyers, who have won two in a row for the second time this season.

Philadelphia captain Claude Giroux assisted on both of Voracek’s goals, recording his 300th career point on his linemate’s first of the game 28 seconds into the second period.

Giroux, who scored his first goal of the season Saturday in a 4-2 win against the Edmonton Oilers, also assisted on Voracek’s second goal of the game, which came on the power play at 10:33 of the second to put the Flyers ahead 3-0.

Craig Anderson stopped 26 shots in his first game since Nov. 3, when he was injured in a goalmouth collision with Dallas Stars rookie Valeri Nichushkin.

Anderson got the start even though backup goalie Robin Lehner was named the NHL’s First Star of the Week on Monday. Lehner led Ottawa to three straight wins while Anderson was sidelined because of a sore neck, posting a 1.33 goals-against average and .958 save percentage.

Ottawa almost ended Mason’s shutout bid in the third period but had a goal waved off moments after Schenn scored Philadelphia’s fifth goal on a power play at 13:32.

Chris Neil’s deflection of Joe Corvo’s point shot was disallowed at 14:19 because the Senators right wing made contact with the puck above the level of the crossbar, a ruling that was confirmed by video review.

Steve Downie returned to the Flyers’ lineup after missing four games because of a concussion. He assisted on Read’s goal, his fourth of the season, on a wraparound shot that beat Anderson inside the left post at 16:24 of the first.

Anderson sprawled to make a left-pad save moments later on Voracek’s backhand shot on a partial breakaway.

Scott Hartnell got his first assist in his past 39 games on Voracek’s goal early in the second. Hartnell passed behind the net to Voracek, who came out front to stuff the puck inside the right post.

Anderson robbed Giroux of a goal with a spectacular save in the closing seconds of the middle period. The Ottawa goaltender lunged to his right to make a backhand save on Giroux’s shot from the left side, stopping the puck in midair with the paddle of his stick.

Lecavalier made it 4-0 with his seventh goal at 7:57 of the third.

Senators defenseman Chris Phillips missed the game because of an undisclosed injury.