Mason Stones Phoenix

Blue Jackets 3, Coyotes 2

Two early goals and a blessing from the hockey gods propelled the Blue Jackets to a 3-2 victory against the Phoenix Coyotes on Tuesday night in Nationwide Arena.

Steve Mason, strong in his 11^th win of the season, made 38 saves. His performance between the pipes repeatedly saved Columbus from squandering its early lead.

It didn’t take long for the Blue Jackets to find the back of the net. Less than one minute into the first period, R.J. Umberger swept in alone on goal and stuffed a quick shot inside the near post for the 1-0 lead.

Shortly after Umberger’s tally, Columbus scored again to make it 2-1. Taking a cross- ice pass from Vinny Prospal, Jack Johnson rifled a wrist shot that whizzed over the right shoulder of goalie Mike Smith.

Following the Blue Jackets’ second goal, Smith yanked from the cage and replaced by Jason LaBarbera.

At 11:57 of the period, Antoine Vermette tallied to cut Columbus’ lead in half. Cruising into the zone on an odd-man rush, the ex-Blue Jacket blasted a one-timer past a sprawled out Mason to make it 2-1.

In the second frame, Derek Mackenzie scored at 3:02 to take the 3-1 lead. The play drew the ire of the Coyotes, who believed the goal was made possible by goalie interference. Derek Dorsett was involved in a three-player pileup inside the goal crease on the play.

When asked of the questionable goal, Mackenzie said the hockey gods must have been on Columbus’ side.

Fired up, Phoenix peppered Mason with shots for the remainder of the period. At one point, the Coyotes had eleven consecutive shots on goal.

Despite turning aside the majority of the Phoenix’s scoring chances, Mason finally allowed blistering slap shot at 16:26 of the period to make it 3-2.

The Blue Jackets were outshot 17-10 in the second period.

In the third period, the momentum shifted back and forth between the teams. On one end of the ice, Mason continuously made game-saving glove saves. In Columbus’ offensive zone, the Blue Jackets cycled the puck with amazing fluidity, but could not capitalize.

After surviving a frantic final two minutes, the Blue Jackets let out a sigh of relief as they recorded their third consecutive victory for the first time this season.

Columbus’ lone setback came in the form of an injury as Nikita Nikitin left the game in the first period after taking a shot to the leg.