Mason stellar after long layoff

Welcome back, Steve Mason. Now shake off that rust and go get up to speed against the Vancouver Canucks, the most dynamic offensive club in the Western Conference.Mason, once seen as the Blue Jackets' franchise goaltender, had 30 saves Tuesday in a 2-1 shootout win over the Canucks, showing no ill effects from the long layoff other than a third-period bout with cramps.To say it was a surprising result would be a dramatic understatement. The Blue Jackets had lost nine straight to Vancouver, and Mason hadn't started a game since Nov. 15."I hadn't played in awhile," Mason said. "It was great to be back out there. I'm extremely excited about this -- not just me getting a win, but the team playing so well against a very good opponent and us getting rewarded for it."Mason left the game with 6:46 remaining in the third period after suffering cramping in his right quad. But after getting a quick dressing-room massage, he return to the game with 3:44 to play and finished.Blue Jackets coach Scott Arniel made it clear, however, that Curtis Sanford is still seen as the club's No. 1 goaltender.NOTES, QUOTESPenalty killing stiffens vs. powerful Canucks--Go figure. The Blue Jackets entered Tuesday's game with the worst penalty kill in the NHL, facing the Vancouver Canucks, who own the top power play in the league. So, of course, the Blue Jackets killed all four penalties, including three straight in the second period, en route to a 2-1 shootout win in Nationwide Arena.--The Blue Jackets played Tuesday's game vs. Vancouver with only 11 forwards. Center Sammy Pahlsson was unable to dress because of an illness, so defenseman Aaron Johnson joined the forwards. The third and fourth lines were shuffled and Johnson joined the fourth line with Jared Boll and Mark Letestu. QUOTE TO NOTE: "Moreso for the mental side of Steve, that was a big, big game." -- Blue Jackets coach Scott Arniel, after G Steve Mason made 30 saves in his first start in nearly a month.ROSTER REPORTPLAYER NOTES:--RW Derek Dorsett appeared to suffer a serious lower left leg injury in Saturday's loss to Boston, but the Blue Jackets have been encouraged by the days that followed. Dorsett is deemed day-to-day and could be back by this weekend. On Saturday, he tumbled backward and fell awkwardly on his left leg with all his weight after narrowly avoiding a collision with Boston G Tim Thomas.--G Steve Mason had 30 saves in a 2-1 shootout win over Vancouver on Tuesday, his first game since Nov. 15. Mason missed two games with a concussion, but he lost his starting job to veteran journeyman Curtis Sanford, who made 12 starts in a row.--RW Dane Byers was recalled from minor-league Springfield on Monday and made his Blue Jackets debut on Tuesday against the Canucks. His previous NHL experience was six games with the New York Rangers during the 2009-10 season.MEDICAL WATCH:--LW Kristian Huselius (lower body) is out until February.--RW Derek Dorsett (lower left leg) is day-to-day.--G Mark Dekanich (groin) came up lame during warm-ups of a minor-league game on Nov. 11 and is out indefinitely.--D Radek Martinek (concussion) is out indefinitely.