Neuvirth getting another chance to be playoff savior for Flyers

PITTSBURGH -- Maybe this time, Michal Neuvirth will get enough help to truly be the Philadelphia Flyers savior.
Neuvirth, playing in his first full game since Feb. 16 because of a pair of lower-body injuries, gave the Flyers a chance to come back in their Eastern Conference First Round series against the Pittsburgh Penguins by making 30 saves in a 4-2 win in Game 5 at PPG Paints Arena.

The Flyers trail the best-of-7 series 3-2. Game 6 is at Wells Fargo Center on Sunday (3 p.m. ET; NBC, CBC, TVAS). Coach Dave Hakstol hasn't announced a starter, but Neuvirth is ready.
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"I like playing in the playoffs, like facing the pressure," Neuvirth said. "But it's only one game and we came here to win a hockey game. We did that. Now we have to win the next one."
Neuvirth has kept the Flyers' season alive before. He did it two years ago, when he started in place of Steve Mason in Game 4 of the first round against the Washington Capitals, after the Flyers had already fallen behind 3-0 in the series by getting outscored 12-2.
The Flyers scored just four more goals, but Neuvirth got them to Game 6.
He allowed two goals on 105 shots in three games for a .981 save percentage and 0.67 goals-against average. However, the Flyers couldn't help him out enough and lost 1-0 in Game 6.

They won 2-1 in Game 4 and 2-0 in Game 5, when Neuvirth made 44 saves in Washington.
"He's a fighter," defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere said. "He finds a way to win games and make big saves at the right time. We believe in him. He's the same guy as two years ago, when he came in against Washington. He almost saved the series and made us win. It's the type of effort you need and we'll need some more from him."
Neuvirth missed the first three games against the Penguins because he was nursing the lower-body injury he sustained in a 2-1 win against the Colorado Avalanche on March 28. That was his first appearance since Feb. 18, when he also sustained a lower-body injury.
But Neuvirth surprisingly dressed as the backup to Brian Elliott in Game 4 instead of Petr Mrazek. He was forced into action in the second period after Elliott allowed three goals on 17 shots.
Neuvirth gave up two on 13 shots in what turned into a 5-0 loss, but getting into the game was enough to convince Hakstol that he was the right goalie to start Game 5.
"We just felt that [Neuvirth] has looked sharp in practice," Hakstol said. "He went in the other night and he got some game action, so even though he hasn't been in the net a lot he did have an opportunity to get into this series. In talking it through with Kim Dillabaugh, our goaltending coach, he was the right choice for [Game 5]. He's done it all year for us. At the right time, he's come in and played a big game for our hockey team and we needed that from him."

Neuvirth was especially impressive in the third period. He made 12 saves to keep the game tied before Sean Couturier scored with 1:15 remaining to give the Flyers a 3-2 lead.
But his biggest save came after Couturier scored. Neuvirth got over to the right post in time to rob Penguins captain Sidney Crosby by making a glove save with 52 seconds remaining.
"Reaction, whatever you want to call it," Neuvirth said. "It was a big save at the right time."
Crosby, who appeared to have an open look, said Neuvirth did a good job of closing it quickly.
"He was over there in time," Crosby said. "I tried to get it up, but he was there. Not much you can do there."
Hakstol was careful not to say if Neuvirth will start Game 6 because it's the playoffs and coaches rarely give away lineup details early, but it would be shocking if he doesn't, especially given his history with the Flyers in potential elimination games.

"When he plays cocky, he's pretty good," captain Claude Giroux said. "Big games, he steps up."
A little help, and maybe Neuvirth gets the Flyers to Game 7 this time.