VOORHEES, N.J. — Ditch the pads.
That’s exactly what Flyers goalie Steve Mason intends to do with his brand spanking new caramel-colored pads that complement the team’s Winter Classic jerseys.
The Flyers are wearing their Winter Classic duds Saturday against the Toronto Maple Leafs, but Mason said the color is bothering him in his peripheral vision.
So, they’re gone.
He’ll play with the white pads instead, which he believes makes him look larger in net and makes it harder for shooters because the color of the pads and the white mesh netting blend together.
It also makes it easier for Mason to track the puck.
Mason practiced in the caramel pads Friday but was clearly uncomfortable in them, moving all over the place, appearing unsettled in net.
“It’s not that I was uncomfortable with them, it’s just that it was an adjustment to have so much color,” Mason said. “I’m used to having white pads.
“When I am in my stance, you can see the colors on your hands. It’s just something else to look through. I feel exactly the same as in my regular ones. It’s not an adjustment with that, it’s the visual effect of it.’
Equipment manager Derek Settlemyre asked him to try a third set and he did. Experiment over.
“I’ll probably try them again, but I won’t be using them tomorrow,” Mason said.