Blue Jackets 2 - 0 Avalanche
Final
  for this game

Mason shuts door on Avalanche

Mar 2, 2012 - 5:22 AM Denver, CO (Sports Network) - Steve Mason stopped 32 shots for his first shutout of the season as Columbus claimed a 2-0 victory over Colorado at Pepsi Center.

Nikita Nikitin and Fedor Tyutin provided the offense for the Blue Jackets, who snapped a three-game slide. Vinny Prospal added a pair of assists.

"We sure needed everyone, and we got a complete game. All of a sudden things are a lot more enjoyable here," said Prospal. "We've been losing leads in the third and tonight it finally went our way."

Semyon Varlamov played well in defeat, making 26 saves for the Avalanche, who saw their four-game win streak halted.

Nikitin gave Mason all the scoring he needed at the 12:53 mark of the opening period, when he one-timed a Prospal feed home from the right point for a power-play tally.

Tyutin doubled the advantage with just under five minutes remaining in the second period when his rip from the bottom of the left circle beat Varlamov.

Seconds later, rookie Gabriel Landeskog dropped the gloves with new Blue Jackets defenseman Jack Johnson, a clear win for the rearguard.

"I had a few of them in junior, so it was bound to happen," Landeskog said. "I just didn't like what he was trying to do."

Mason preserved the shutout with his finest save early in the third, as he did the splits and stopped Jay McClement's chance with his blocker and pad at the right post.

Colorado skated 6-on-4 during the final 1:38 of regulation after Tyutin was sent off for high sticking, but still couldn't solve Mason.

Game Notes

Thursday marked just the second time in Blue Jackets history that they blanked the Avalanche in Denver, following a 3-0 win on December 5, 2006...Mason notched his 19th career clean sheet...Prospal notched his eighth multi-point effort this season...Colorado hosts Pittsburgh on Saturday.






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