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Emery (lower body) might start tonight

Ray Emery

Philadelphia Flyers goalie Ray Emery deflects the puck over his head during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Calgary Flames, Saturday, Feb. 8, 2014, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Tom Mihalek)

AP

Ray Emery has been dealing with a lower-body injury, but he might still be ready for the start of the regular season. If all goes well, he’ll play between the pipes tonight against the New York Rangers and starting goaltender Steve Mason will finish off the Flyers’ preseason on Thursday, per CSN Philly’s Tim Panaccio.

That’s good news for the Flyers, but it will likely mark the end of Rob Zepp’s long shot bid to make the opening game roster. Zepp started his career in North America, but was largely regulated to the ECHL so he went to Europe and became a top-tier goaltender in the German league.

At the age of 33, Zepp has decided to play for a North American franchise for the first time since the 2004-05 campaign.

“We had a really good thing going in Berlin,” Zepp said, per the Philadelphia Daily News. “We were really successful. It’s a first-class place to be. I’ve tried to prepare myself to not only be successful over there, but be successful over here one day.

“I’ve had some opportunities the past few summers, but either the timing wasn’t right or the situation wasn’t right. But I’m not getting any younger. Given my age, I felt like this was the last opportunity for me. It was now or never.”

He’s been effective in the preseason, but he still is likely going to be sent to the minors if Emery is healthy.

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