apColumbus Blue Jackets rookie goaltender Steve Mason stops a Michael Cammalleri shot during Saturday’s game against the Calgary Flames. Mason won his third consecutive game in four days as the Blue Jackets defeated the Flames 3-1.


The third period has been a wild time for the Columbus Blue Jackets this season. They’ve blown leads and made enormous comebacks, looking every bit like the young team they are and giving coach Ken Hitchcock fits in the process.

Saturday night, the Jackets (7-6-2) shut the game down and prevailed 3-1 against the Calgary Flames (8-6-1) for their third consecutive win and sixth game in a row with at least one point (4-0-2).

“The third period was for veteran players,” Hitchcock said. “It was a very physical game. It was tough on the boards. There was not a lot of flow to it and it needed to be ground down.”

Saturday was the third game in four days for the Jackets, all against Canadian squads (Edmonton, Montreal and Calgary).

After Wednesday’s game-winning goal against Edmonton in the final minute, and a blown lead in the final minute against Montreal that led to a shootout win on Friday, Saturday’s game was a welcome change of pace as the Jackets put a game away early.

“I think as times go on our fans are really going to enjoy those periods,” center Michael Peca said. “We have a one-goal lead and we shut it down, get a goal for insurance purposes and play that type of hockey the last 20 minutes.

“These are the games that build a team up.”

With a 2-1 lead in the third period, Columbus center Manny Malhotra blocked a shot by Calgary’s Cory Sarich, took the puck down the length of the ice and fired a slap shot just inside the top right corner of the net, effectively ending any chance of a Flames comeback.

“If you’re going to win, you have to do the things that hurt,” Hitchcock said. “It’s not easy blocking shots, those are the small sacrifices that at the end of the night win hockey games for you.”

Jason Chimera and Derrick Brassard also scored goals for Columbus.

Rookie goaltender Steve Mason, called up on Nov. 4 with starter Pascal Leclaire injured and backup Fredrik Norrena ineffective, won his third game in four days. Mason is the first goaltender to open his NHL career with three consecutive wins since Montreal’s Jaroslav Halak in the 2006-07 season.

“It’s pretty special, obviously,” Mason said. “It hasn’t had time to sink in really yet. I couldn’t ask for a better start.”

Calgary’s Jarome Iginla scored the lone Flames goal during a Calgary powerplay at the beginning of the second period to tie the game at one.

Mason made 22 saves in the best performance of his three games so far.

“He’s just solid everywhere right now,” Hitchcock said. “There are no holes in his game, there’s no easy goals that go in and he’s working well with the defensemen.”

Hitchcock said Mason would be working on communicating more with the defense on Monday as calls are different between Columbus and AHL-affiliate Syracuse.

Columbus does not play again until Wednesday against Phoenix, and if Leclaire makes his return, Mason could be headed back to the minors, despite his outstanding start.

“I’m very proud of it,” Mason said of his performance so far. “But the toughest part of the NHL is sticking around so I still have to do that.”

James Crepea can be reached at [email protected].