• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Nash, Blue Jackets seek better defensive effort

Jan 20, 2009 - 1:36 PM Columbus (22-19-4) at Edmonton (23-19-3), 9:00 p.m. EST

EDMONTON, Alberta (Ticker) -- Now that sniper Rick Nash is back from an injury that kept him sidelined for four games, the Columbus Blue Jackets can concentrate on tightening up their defense.

Seeking a better effort on the defensive end, Nash and Blue Jackets continue their three-game homestand against the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday.

After sitting out with a sprained right knee, Nash immediately made his presence felt for the surging Blue Jackets as the center recorded a goal and two assists before netting the decisive tally in a 6-5 shootout win over the Vancouver Canucks on Sunday.

Columbus opened its stretch at home by bouncing back from a 2-1 setback against the New Jersey Devils on Friday.

Rookie Steve Mason, who will start in goal for the rookies in the YoungStars game as part of the All-Star Weekend festivities in Montreal later in the month, entered the game with a league-leading 1.81 goals-against average.

But he yielded five goals for just the second time this season before finishing with 25 saves for Columbus, which has won five of its last seven contests on the road.

Edmonton, meanwhile, won its second straight game after defeating the Phoenix Coyotes, 6-3, on Sunday.

Captain Ethan Moreau registered his first career hat trick and Ales Hemsky had two goals after missing 10 games because of a concussion.