Michal Neuvirth says he is focused on helping steer the Flyers into the Stanley Cup playoffs, but the 28-year-old goalie also knows he is playing for a contract.
He can become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.
"I'm going to try to do everything I can to try to stay here in Philly," said Neuvirth, who will make his third straight start Monday as the Flyers (26-20-7) host St. Louis (25-22-5). "For me, right now we have a big game and that's what I'm focusing on right now."
Neuvirth has allowed a total of two goals over the last two games, stopping 42 of 44 shots.
"When you look at Neuvy in last year's playoffs ... you couldn't beat him," right winger Jake Voracek said Sunday after practice in Voorhees. "He's been amazing when he's healthy."
Neuvirth missed 24 games earlier this season with a knee injury, but he is now healthy.
"The last two games, he basically stole three points," said Voracek, referring to a 3-1 win over Montreal and a 1-0 overtime loss to Los Angeles.
"We're definitely staying out of the penalty box and that helps," said Neuvirth, mindful the Flyers have given teams just three power plays, total, over the last two games. "It just seems the guys are playing with more confidence right now."
The Flyers have been stressing defense lately and playing a much more tight-checking style.
"It seems to me the playoffs are getting closer, so everybody feels that, and every team is trying to play playoff hockey right now," Neuvirth said. "It's not going to be the high-scoring games like it was four months ago."
"It's a team game. Everybody tightening up and playing better," said defenseman Nick Schultz, who is expected to be in the lineup for the third straight game Monday. "It's that time of year where you have to play hard defensively, hard away from the puck."
While the defense has excelled, the Flyers' offense has struggled mightily. Excluding an empty-netter, the Flyers have managed just 11 goals over their last eight games, an average of 1.4 goals per contest.
The Flyers are 4-3-1 in that stretch because Neuvirth and Steve Mason have played well.
Neuvirth and Mason _ and all NHL goalies _ are wearing slimmer pants these days because of an NHL mandate that went into effect Saturday, trying to get more offense into the game. The Flyers goalies have been wearing them for several weeks.
"They feel the same way. Not a big deal," Neuvirth said.
The chest protectors will be made smaller next season, and that may present an issue.
"All the prototypes I saw in the summertime, they were ridiculously smaller," said Mason, adding that the chest protectors didn't have much cushioning. "I wouldn't want to play in a game with Shea Weber" shooting while using the prototypes.
