Columbus (18-16-4) at St Louis (14-21-3), 8:30 pm EST
ST. LOUIS (Ticker) -- Rookie Steve Mason has emerged as the
clear front-runner for the Calder Trophy. If he continues
playing the way he is, the 20-year-old may find his way into the
Vezina conversation.
Mason and the Columbus Blue Jackets will seek their fifth
consecutive victory when they face the St. Louis Blues on
Saturday.
After posting three consecutive shutouts, Mason finally allowed
a goal Friday but the Blue Jackets still cruised to a 6-1
triumph over the Colorado Avalanche. Mason's shutout streak was
ended at 199 minutes, 19 seconds.
Rick Nash led the offensive outburst with a goal and three
assists.
Selected 69th overall in 2006 by Columbus, Mason is 13-7-1 with
an NHL-best 1.66 goals-against average and .939 save percentage.
If the Jackets choose to give the talented rookie the night off,
Pascal Leclaire will get the nod in net.
Whoever starts will likely be opposed by Chris Mason, who is no
relation to Steve. The other Mason, however, owns a 9-1-1
career record against Columbus.
The Blues are hoping to avoid a fourth straight loss after
falling to the Carolina Hurricanes, 2-1, on Friday. Chris Mason
was handed his sixth consecutive loss in that one.
