Steve Mason is making the NHL look easy.
The rookie became the first Blue Jackets goalie to post shutouts in three consecutive games, stopping 27 shots and leading Columbus to a 2-0 victory over the Anaheim Ducks. He is tied with injured Vancouver goalie Roberto Luongo for the most shutouts in the league with five.
“It was a pretty routine game for myself. The guys played great in front of myself and made it real easy,” Mason said after his 19th career start and first against the Ducks. “You try not to pay attention to it and think about a shutout because you don’t want to jinx it. It was nice to get, but obviously the most important thing is the win. And right now I’m just trying to get as many wins as I can.”
Mason extended his shutout streak to a franchise-record 182 minutes, 8 seconds and lowered his NHL-leading goals-against average to 1.69.
Norrena did it Dec. 2-5, 2006, against Edmonton and Colorado. Former Ducks goalie Ron Tugnutt also accomplished the feat March 14-16, 2001, against Calgary and Atlanta.
“It’s very comforting to have him back there,” said Chris MacDonald, who scored in his Blue Jackets debut. “If he sees the puck, he’s going to stop it. He’s very much under control and he’s pretty confident for a 20-year-old.”
In other NHL games, it was: Minnesota 3, San Jose 2 in overtime; New York Islanders 4, Florida 2; Dallas 4, New Jersey 2; Carolina 3, Atlanta 1; Phoenix 3, Colorado 1; and Calgary 6, Edmonton 4.
Mason stopped all 71 shots in the last three games against the Ducks, Philadelphia and Los Angeles. His flawless streak appeared to end at 17:52 of the second period after Corey Perry circled the net with the puck and came out in front with it before beating him to the glove side.
But referee Rob Shick immediately waved the goal off, having blown his whistle to call an interference penalty against Anaheim’s Ryan Getzlaf. He and Blue Jackets center R.J. Umberger also received roughing penalties.
Wild 3, Sharks 2, OT
At St. Paul, Minn., Brent Burns scored at 1:38 of overtime for Minnesota, taking a cross-ice pass from Mikko Koivu and beat Evgeni Nabokov over the left shoulder.
Minnesota lineup, and Krystofer Kolanos added a goal.
San Jose’s Milan Michalek tied it with 25.2 seconds left in regulation with Nabokov off for an extra attacker. Devin Setoguchi also scored for the Sharks.
San Jose lost for just the second time in regulation in 21 games – and the first time in nine games against Minnesota. It was the Wild’s first win in 10 games against a Western Conference opponent.
Islanders 4, Panthers 2
At Uniondale, N.Y., Mike Comrie scored twice in New York’s three-goal second period, and Sean Bergenheim and Mark Streit added goals.
Joey MacDonald, subbing for a third straight game for oft-injured regular Rick DiPietro, made 27 saves for his 11th win of the season – and the Islanders’ first over Florida since Dec. 9, 2006.
Brett McLean and Nathan Horton scored for Florida.
Stars 4, Devils 2
At Dallas, Loui Eriksson scored Dallas’ first short-handed goal of the season and added an empty-netter with 40 seconds left.
Mark Parrish had a power-play goal, Landon Wilson also scored, and Marty Turco made 25 saves for the Stars, 5-1-1 in their last seven.
David Clarkson had a power-play goal, and Mike Mottau also scored for New Jersey.
Hurricanes 3, Thrashers 1
or Carolina, and Cam Ward made 20 saves.
The Hurricanes have won five of eight while picking up points in nine of their 13 games under new coach Paul Maurice.
Atlanta’s Ilya Kovalchuk scored to end a career-worst nine-game goal drought.
Coyotes 3, Avalanche 1
At Glendale, Ariz., Peter Mueller scored twice in a 2:05 span in the second period, and Olli Jokinen also scored for Phoenix.
Shane Doan had a pair of assists, and Mikael Tellqvist made 28 saves in place of the ailing Ilya Bryzgalov, allowing only T.J. Hensick’s goal.
Flames 6, Oilers 4
At Calgary, Alberta, Jarome Iginla and Michael Cammalleri each had two goals and three assists for Calgary.
Adrian Aucoin and Dustin Boyd also scored for the Flames (22-11-4), who have won four in a row and earned points in nine straight games. Miikka Kiprusoff made 28 saves to record his league-leading 22nd win of the season.
Denis Grebeshkov scored and had three assists for the Oilers (17-16-3).
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