Flyers-Blue Jackets 5 things: Steve Mason's farewell?

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Flyers (38-33-9) vs. Blue Jackets (49-23-8)
12:30 p.m. on CSN, CSNPhilly.com and the NBC Sports App

The Flyers play their penultimate game of the 2016-17 season on Saturday when they welcome the playoff-ready Columbus Blue Jackets to the Wells Fargo Center.

Here are five things to know:

1. Goodbye, Mase?
This could be Steve Mason's final hurrah in a Flyers uniform.

The goalie is expected to start Saturday with Anthony Stolarz possibly getting the nod in Sunday's season finale against the Hurricanes.

The Flyers have a decision to make this offseason with Mason (see story).

The soon-to-be 29-year-old can become an unrestricted free agent this offseason. The Flyers re-signed his goalie partner, Michal Neuvirth, to a two-year contract extension at the March 1 trade deadline, while Stolarz waits in the wings, along with other prospects between the pipes.

If this is it for Mason, he certainly left a mark. His 103 wins are third in franchise history behind only Ron Hextall (240) and Bernie Parent (232). He also ranks third in games played (230), fifth in shutouts (14) and fourth in goals-against average (2.47) among goaltenders that played 30 or more games for the Flyers.

2. Missin' the kids
If you're excited to see Sam Morin and Mike Vecchione again, don't be.

You at least won't see either of the two on Saturday.

Morin, the 6-foot-7 defenseman who made his NHL debut on Tuesday (see story), is back with AHL affiliate Lehigh Valley, helping the Phantoms in their push for the playoffs, which continues with a game Saturday night.

Vecchione, who the Flyers signed out of Union College last week, was in Chicago on Friday night as one of three finalists for the Hobey Baker Award (top college player). The 24-year-old center fell short of the honor to Denver University's Will Butcher (see story). Because of travel, Vecchione will not play Saturday, but instead on Sunday.

Roman Lyubimov will be inserted into the lineup alongside Pierre-Edouard Bellemare and Chris VandeVelde.

3. Comfy Jackets?
The Blue Jackets are good.

In a positive way, they have nothing left to play for heading into the Wells Fargo Center.

With two regular-season games remaining, Columbus already has its postseason ticket punched and first-round opponent in the Penguins.

However, the Blue Jackets would like to go into the playoffs with some momentum by snapping a current five-game losing streak.

Columbus may have the right matchup to do that Saturday as it has beaten the Flyers in all three meetings this season, albeit by a combined score of just 8-4. 

4. Keep an eye on ...
Flyers: We're going to say Brayden Schenn, considering he's one goal shy of tying his career high of 26 set last season. The 25-year-old quietly has 12 points (six goals, six assists) in his last 13 games and is tied for the NHL lead in power-play goals with 17.

Blue Jackets: Let's go with ex-Flyer Sam Gagner, who needs just one goal and one point to set new career highs in those respective categories. Some doubted Gagner's NHL ability and draft selection (sixth overall in 2007), but stick tap to him for a great resurrection in Columbus: 18 goals and 31 assists for 49 points.

5. This and that
* Mason is 9-4-2 with a 2.09 goals-against average and .929 save percentage over his last 15 games.

* It's uncertain if Sergei Bobrovsky will start in net for the Blue Jackets on Saturday, but he's having another Vezina Trophy-caliber season at 41-16-5 with a 2.02 goals-against average, .933 save percentage and seven shutouts. He's also 8-1-0 with a 1.65 goals-against average and .945 save percentage lifetime against the Flyers.

* Columbus is without stud 19-year-old defenseman Zach Werenski, who injured his shoulder last Sunday.

* The Flyers have lost 13 of their last 15 games against the Blue Jackets.

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