Bethany's Hockey Rants

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Steve Mason

by Bethany on 01/09/09 at 08:26 PM ET
Comments (10)

Steve Mason, too young for the All-Star game...so he’s all about the YoungStars Game.

The Capitals GM George McPhee said in the interview between periods, that Steve Mason is the Rookie of the Year right now, I agree.

The kid is leading the league in all categories, except for wins, and in my opinion, he got jipped out of the All-Star game, but what can you do.

Mason is playing hurt right now, and he’s still our best player. I’m watching him stone the Washington Capitals as I type this. I do wonder how hurt he is, it’s an upper body injury which makes some of the stress go away, I worry about his knee. The defensemen are doing an outstanding job of keeping people clear from the Mason. They’re not letting anyone take any extra shots at him, which is the way it should be.

I was going through my google reader, trying to catch up on all the things I have missed, with a broken computer, and taking on more hours at work. And, I caught a blog on the Crunch. They say that we need a veteran goaltender for Syracuse, which we HAD, sort of, in Norrena. But he wouldn’t go, so now what do we do? What are our options?

I don’t even know. Lindsay Kramer had this to say.

Those two factors add up to the Blue Jackets needing a third goalie. For now, that’s LaCosta. And good for him. Maybe he stays up there for a bit, and Leclaire eventually comes here for a conditioning stretch. Who knows?

But unless a stabilizing move is made, the Crunch is heading for a ditch. Nothing helps team confidence and gets winning streaks going like good goaltending. Great efforts by Dahm and LaCosta are the reason Syracuse has won two in a row. Conversely, nothing saps momentum like subpar play from the position (see: 10-game winless streak).

This is a vital time of the season for the Crunch. It will either creep back into playoff position or get blown out toward the bottom of the North Division.

There are a ton of quality, experienced goalies in the minors. Some are riding the bench as backups in the AHL. Some are waiting for a chance in the ECHL).

He doesn’t ever name names. So, what do we do.

We keep riding Mason, because we need the points, and we need them badly.

And, in some random move, Kris Russell, just pushed attempted to shove Donald Brashear after he went after Backman. Sometimes I wonder about the mental state of these kids. Brashear could probably snap Russell like a twig. I probably should get back to the game.

Filed in: Columbus Blue Jackets, | Bethanys Hockey Rants | Permalink
Tags: Columbus+Blue+Jackets, Steve+Mason,

Comments

I’m watching him stone the Washington Capitals as I type this.

I am too. Here’s hoping he keeps it up in the 3rd!

Posted by yawt from norcal on 01/09/09 at 08:54 PM ET

And there it is. Just stoned one of the best teams (and currently the hottest team) in the eastern conference, not once, but twice.

All hail Steve freakin’ Mason!

Posted by yawt from norcal on 01/09/09 at 09:41 PM ET

I know we worked Mior out in prospect camp and he looked pretty damn good. Did he go unsigned? Maybe he could be a stopgap for the Crunch.

Beyond that, man, tonight felt GOOD. Tense, a little nerve wracking, but GOOD.

Posted by BZArcher on 01/09/09 at 10:28 PM ET

He was my pick for third star in that 3-1 Wings win against the Jackets, Beth. I think he’s just about taken over Leclaire as the Jackets #1 netminder.

Damn, that kid’s good.

Posted by SYF from Las Vegas, NV on 01/09/09 at 10:44 PM ET

Just about? No, the job is Mase’s. Pazzy probably tweaked his injury just to get some attention. Poor guy must be so bored there on the bench.

Mase is unreal. And he’s SO young! Good days ahead in the land of the Blue Jackets.

Savor this one, Jacket fans. 45 saves, 12 of which against Ovechkin. Hope Mase gets a good night’s sleep!

Posted by Tom on 01/09/09 at 11:06 PM ET