• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Mason posts seventh shutout as Blue Jackets blank Senators

Jan 31, 2009 - 5:52 AM By Dave Holstein PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

COLUMBUS, Ohio (Ticker) -- Steve Mason made 18 saves en route to his league-leading seventh shutout of the season and fellow rookie Jakub Voracek scored the lone goal as the Columbus Blue Jackets continued their dominance of the Eastern Conference with a 1-0 victory over the Ottawa Senators on Friday.

The favorite to win the Calder Trophy this season, Mason turned aside eight shots in both the first and third periods while needing to make just two saves in the middle session to improve to 7-1-0 with five blankings against teams from the East.

"The most important thing for me is getting into playoff position," Mason said. "We did that tonight, and we just want to keep moving forward with it. Shutouts are nice to get on a personal note, but they don't really mean anything in the end."

After a scoreless first period, Columbus got on the board early in the second. Voracek notched his eighth goal of the season just three seconds after an Ottawa penalty had expired.

Michael Peca fired a slap shot from the left point that was redirected by Voracek past goaltender Alex Auld at 3:55 of the middle session, giving Mason all the support he needed.

"I was a little bit lucky," Voracek said. "Michael Peca hit me in front of the net, but I'll take it. It's a big two points for us."

"Jake was great tonight," Columbus coach Ken Hitchcock said. "He played really well."

Auld, who was making his first start since January 6, made 24 saves. He fell to 0-6-2 since December 6.

"I felt good," Auld said. "Tonight, I just wanted to focus on a good start and do things right. It's tough to play that well and not end up with the win. Even as a team, I thought we played well."

"Alex was really good," said Ottawa coach Craig Hartsburg, whose team kept Columbus scoreless on six power-play chances. "He was outstanding, and your best penalty-killer has to be your goalie. He made some big saves early in the hockey game to give us a chance."

The 20-year-old Mason preserved the lead with two spectacular saves late in the third period with his club shorthanded.

First, he went from goalpost to goalpost to make a sliding stop on defenseman Alexandre Picard. On the same power play, Mason again robbed Picard with a glove save to secure the victory for Columbus, which raised its record to 8-2-1 against the East.

"Mase had to make three big saves in the third period," Hitchcock said. "He's a good hockey player. You just have to accept the fact that you have a hammer."

The Senators went 0-for-5 with the man advantage, including three opportunities in the final session.

"Against that team, you are not going to create a lot of scoring chances," Hartsburg said. "But in the third, we did have a couple of quality ones. That's what it comes down to against Columbus - you have to score on your chances because you aren't going to get many."