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By Roger Phillips
This was Mason’s second shutout of the season and third against Detroit. Voted the NHL’s top rookie in 2008-09 and having finished second in the balloting for the Vezina Trophy, which goes to the NHL's top goaltender, Mason’s numbers haven’t been nearly as good since. “He looked big, and he looked comfortable,” Columbus coach Scott Arniel spoke of Mason.
Both Antoine Vermette and Andrew Murray had a goal and an assist each, as Jared Boll also scored for Columbus. Murray, who scored into an empty net with 1:12 left, said, “For him to get the shutout tonight, a great feeling for him and us.” Mason said that the Blue Jackets played great defensive. “Our backcheck, especially in the third period, did a good job and took away their forecheck,” he said. “And that took away the momentum they were trying to build.”
Jimmy Howard prevented 21 shots for the Red Wings. “Just (not) executing. Not making plays,” said Detroit captain Nicklas Lidstrom. “Whether it's a pass on a breakout the way we wanted to, we just didn't execute well at all.”
The 12th goal by Vermette opened the scoring with 7:51 left in the first period. He beat Howard with a one-time slap shot from the high slot when Vermette came off the bench. “I never saw the pass (from Matt Calvert). All I did was hear the shot,” Howard said. “In that situation, you’re in trouble if you can't see it.”
Boll made it 2-0 as 7:49 were remaining in the second period by putting in a one-timer from the low slot in his sixth goal. Columbus killed off a 1:06 two-man Detroit advantage in the second period. “A good penalty kill starts with goaltending,” Arneil said. “From there we blocked some shots and limited their chances down low.”
Lidstrom spoke of the missed opportunity of the Red Wings. “We had the 5-on-3, didn’t execute,” he said. “A goal would have gotten us back into the game.”
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