Rob Zepp happy with short but successful stint with Flyers

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GLENDALE, Ariz. – Rob Zepp knew it was inevitable he’d return to Allentown to rejoin the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.

It happened late Monday after the Flyers reactivated starting goalie Steve Mason (who had been experiencing back spasms) against the Arizona Coyotes.

“I knew once Mase was back, I’d be going back down,” Zepp said. “Obviously it’s disappointing, but I knew it was going to happen. I think I got a fair amount accomplished in my time up here.”

Zepp, who made a much-needed start in Winnipeg and picked up a key victory for the Flyers during this current eight-game road trip, likely earned the right to come back to the Flyers at some point.

“His style and his quickness and structure in his game give me confidence,” said Flyers coach Craig Berube. “He won a big game, a real big game. I go back to that save he made at the end of the second period -- it gave us life going into the third period, and we went out and played with an attitude. He made one or two big saves in the third period. The timing of the saves was huge.”

Earlier in the trip, Zepp made a clutch stop on Mark Scheifele at the very end of the second period with the Jets ahead, 3-1. If Winnipeg scored there, there was no way the Flyers would come back to win the game, which they did, 4-3, in overtime.

Flyers general manager Ron Hextall had a tough decision to make. To carry Zepp in the event that Mason’s aching back were to seize up again, he would have had to move another player.

“That’s hard with everybody no matter who you’ve got,” Hextall said a few hours before informing Zepp of his decision.

“It’s hard whether it’s a D-man or a forward or a goalie. It’s not a perfect situation. I don’t want to say anything to you guys before I tell the player. It’s not fair.”

Zepp says the Flyers learned something about him.

“All the feedback I have had, from Hexy right on down to the coaching staff has been positive,” Zepp said. “I wanted to come in camp and through the exhibition games and show everyone I can play. I think I accomplished that. Now I got my first game under my belt. I feel like I had a good showing for myself. At the end of the day, it’s one game. Careers aren’t made on one game. I wanted it to be a stepping stone for more opportunities.

“I wanted to show that I belonged in the league full-time. I waited a long time for that first game. I’m happy to wait a little longer for the next one.”

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