Bob Mason (ice hockey)

Lore & Background

Mason had a standout college career at the University of Minnesota-Duluth, earning WCHA Player of the Year honors in the 1982–83 season. After a season with the US National Team, he played for the United States at the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo. Undrafted, he was signed by the Washington Capitals after the Olympics and assigned to the AHL, but he won both of his two NHL starts in the 1983–84 season, establishing himself as a top prospect.

Trapped behind the experienced duo of Pat Riggin and Al Jensen, Mason spent most of his first two professional seasons in the AHL with the Binghamton Whalers. When recalled, he excelled, posting an 8-2-1 record with a 2.81 GAA in 12 appearances in 1984–85 and winning his only start in 1985–86. In the 1986–87 season, he finally became a regular, making 45 appearances and finishing among the top starters in goals-against average and save percentage.

In the 1987 playoffs, the Capitals faced the New York Islanders in a series that went to a seventh game. That game, dubbed the Easter Epic, stretched into quadruple overtime past midnight into Easter Sunday. Mason made 54 saves, including 36 straight from the start of overtime, before losing on a screened slapshot by Pat Lafontaine. The game was the longest playoff overtime game in the NHL since 1951 and remains the longest Game 7 in NHL history.

Reader's Guide

Mason's career is defined by his role in the Easter Epic, a game that cemented his place in NHL lore despite the loss. His 54-save performance, including 36 consecutive saves in overtime, showcased his resilience in one of the most grueling playoff games ever played. After leaving Washington, he signed with Chicago as a starter but was usurped by rookie Darren Pang, and his numbers declined.

Subsequent stints with Quebec, a return to Washington, and Vancouver failed to recapture his earlier form, and he finished his NHL career with a six-game cameo in 1990–91. Mason later transitioned to coaching, serving as goaltending coach for the Minnesota Wild from 2002 to 2020, a tenure highlighted by the 2006–07 Jennings Trophy won by Wild goalies Niklas Bäckström and Manny Fernandez. His legacy rests on a single unforgettable playoff game and his long service as an NHL goaltending coach.