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Madden's controversial goal beats Mason, Blue Jackets

Jan 17, 2009 - 6:20 AM COLUMBUS, Ohio (Ticker) -- Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Steve Mason was his usual dominant self for 58 minutes, 47 seconds on Friday. The New Jersey Devils were able to steal a win during the time the rookie sensation blinked.

John Madden scored a controversial goal just 73 seconds after Travis Zajac forged a tie midway through the third period as the Devils cooled off the Blue Jackets with a 2-1 triumph.

After previously sitting for 13 consecutive games, Kevin Weekes made 26 saves in his second start in four contests for the Devils, who improved to 3-1-0 on their season-high, six-game road trip.

"It was a tough game and, obviously, they played a really good game all game long," Weekes said. "(Columbus coach Ken Hitchcock's teams) are always well-coached and always very disciplined. Typically, they play their systems real well, and tonight, those guys did exactly that. We couldn't really generate much offensively, which is tough, especially playing against that Steve Mason kid. He's been awesome."

Manny Malhotra scored a second-period goal and Mason turned aside 26 shots for the Blue Jackets, who had their three-game winning streak halted and fell to 8-2-1 against Eastern Conference opponents this season.

"We had complete control and playing really well, and we took a poor penalty in the neutral zone," Hitchcock said. "We didn't get the clear, and then it's game on. We did what we needed to do - the guys were playing pretty good. We played well, but we left the game out there. They caught a break, and they took advantage of it. Good teams do that. This is a tough loss for everybody, but we can move forward."

The 20-year-old Mason, who likely will command most of the attention during the YoungStars Game during All-Star Weekend in Montreal later this month, entered the game with the league lead in goals-against average (1.80) and shutouts (six). Owning a .936 save percentage, he trailed only Boston's Tim Thomas (.937).

It appeared Mason was headed toward his seventh blanking against the lifeless Devils, who seemed to be out of steam only midway through their trek.

But Zajac finally solved Mason with 9:54 remaining in the third, taking a botched clearing attempt by Columbus' R.J. Umberger along the boards and firing a wrist shot into a vacant net to forge a 1-1 tie.

"It was just a lucky break on my part," Zajac said. "I was able to catch Mason off-guard. I don't think he was expecting a shot there. He was standing up when I shot, so I kept the puck low and on the ice."

Shortly thereafter, Madden netted his puzzling goal to give the Devils the lead.

In the midst of traffic in front of the net, David Clarkson tried to stuff his attempt past the pads of Mason. Madden collected the loose puck and barely tapped it in as the net was dislodged by Columbus defenseman Marc Methot.

"I didn't hear a whistle, so I just kept going," Madden said. "The puck was loose in the crease and I just tapped it in just as their defenseman was pushing the net off."

After the play was reviewed by video replay officials for several moments, Madden was credited with his fifth goal of the season.

"The call was the call on the ice," Devils coach Brent Sutter said. "They called it a goal, because we didn't feel like we were the team that pushed the net off the ice, and the replay showed that. The puck was on its way in the net and the defenseman knocked the net off, so that's clearly a goal. So yeah, it went our way, but it was the right way."

Hitchcock saw it another way, however.

"Referee Don Koharski said the call was his, and Toronto sent it back down to him - they ruled it inconclusive," Hitchcock said. "He said, 'The call was mine, and I called it a goal.'

"Yes, I have seen the replay. The net was off, but it's the referee's call, and he called it a goal. It's a little disappointing because our understanding was, the net was off. We haven't caught a break on one of those yet this year."

Madden was happy his team was able to escape with a victory on the road despite its sluggish play through the first 40 minutes.

"We definitely got some bounces in the third period to get the win," he said. "You've got to take advantages of mistakes, and we did that. For the first two periods, we just didn't seem to have an edge on them at all and couldn't get anything going."

Malhotra gave Columbus a 1-0 edge with 7:14 left in the middle session, snapping a shot past Weekes for his fifth tally.

The Blue Jackets, who were without injured All-Star Rick Nash for the fourth straight game, lost for just the third time in 10 contests.

Jason Williams made his debut for Columbus two days after being acquired from Atlanta for defenseman Clay Wilson and a sixth-round pick in the 2009 draft. In 41 games for the Thrashers, Williams registered seven goals and 18 points.

Williams recorded three shots in 17 minutes, 1 second of ice time.

Right wing Raffi Torres returned to the Blue Jackets' lineup after being sidelined since December 1 with a knee injury and saw 16:39 of action, notching one shot on goal.