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Mason stars against old team, Blues top Predators

Nov 26, 2008 - 4:37 AM By Jim Diamond PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

NASHVILLE, Tennessee (Ticker) -- The Nashville Predators threw everything they had at former teammate Chris Mason, but the St. Louis Blues goaltender had the answer each time.

Mason made a career-high 47 saves and stopped both attempts during the shootout to lead St. Louis to a 1-0 victory over Nashville on Tuesday.

The game was a stark contrast to the first matchup of the season between the teams in which the Blues won, 5-2, with four of St. Louis' goals coming via the power play.

David Perron used a nifty move to beat Dan Ellis and put St. Louis on the board and, after Mason stopped Rich Peverley, Brad Boyes scored a nearly identical goal to make it 2-0 in the bonus format. Mason made one more stop, this time on Ville Koistinen to seal the win.

"I kind of knew what I was going to do going down the ice, but you always read off of the goalie since you don't know what he is going to do," Perron said. "It feels good to get that first shootout goal."

"When you sell the shot then make a hard fake to bring it back the other way, if you can tuck it in then it is a tricky move to stop," Ellis said. "I just missed them both by a hair."

Mason was busy in his return to Nashville. The former Predator was involved in the game quickly as the home team took control of the opening faceoff and Jordin Tootoo fired a shot from the right side that rang off of the inside of the right goalpost.

"It was close to our best game of the year, we just needed one to go in," Nashville coach Barry Trotz said. "If we play like that every night, we will win 99 games out of 100."

Mason turned aside 15 shots in the first period, 12 in the second, 10 in the third and nine in overtime. He made several saves during a Predators power play in overtime and got help from the post when Jason Arnott's rebound attempt hit off the right post.

"I had some luck on my side tonight, but I'll take it," Mason said.

Prior to his off-season trade from Nashville to St. Louis, Mason had played his entire 135-game NHL career with the Predators.

"Honestly, I wanted to win this game more than any other game I have played in my career," Mason said. "Coming back here with all of the emotions and all, I was kind of nervous."

"It was good for him to get the win against his old teammates," Perron said.

Ellis, who emerged as Nashville's number one goaltender last season, was not tested nearly as frequently but was just as effective. Ellis stopped seven shots in the first, six in the second, three in third and one in overtime. He was sharp when he was tested, making his best save of the night late in the second period on a shorthanded attempt by Jay McClement.

With the Predators on the power play, McClement moved to the low slot with the puck and snapped off a wrist shot that forced Ellis to make a sweeping glove save to preserve the 0-0 tie.

"Chris played an outstanding game, he was phenomenal in there," Ellis said of his former teammate. "We threw everything but the kitchen sink at him, and actually, I think we did throw the kitchen sink, and he stopped that also."

"We can play a lot better than we did tonight," Blues coach Andy Murray said. "We did not have many shots, but we did have some good chances and winning 1-0 on the road is a pretty good feeling."