LOS ANGELES -- Rookie Steve Mason made 24 saves, Kris Russell scored during a power play in the second period and the Columbus Blue Jackets defeated the Los Angeles Kings 2-0 on Monday night.
The 20-year-old Mason logged his fourth career shutout.
In a matchup of talented young goalies, the Kings' Jonathan Quick, 21, stopped 22 shots as he tried to shut out the Blue Jackets for the second time in a week.
Russell, a defenseman, scored late in the second period for the Blue Jackets' first goal in three games against the Kings this season. Jason LaBarbera shut them out 3-0 on Dec. 6, and Quick blanked them by the same score last Tuesday.
Russell's goal ended a Columbus scoring drought against Los Angeles that spanned 186 minutes, 39 seconds.
He knocked in a rebound of his own shot at 18:36 of the second period for his second goal of the season while Michal Handzus was serving an interference penalty.
Rick Nash slid a pass through Los Angeles defenders from the right boards, with the puck glancing off a stick of one of the Kings' defenders. Russell, just to the left of the crease, wristed a shot that bounced off Quick and back to him, and Russell poked the puck high over the sprawling goalie and into the net.
Nash scored his 16th goal into an empty net with 1:15 to play.
Mason made several fine saves, including blocking and smothering the puck with a crowd of players in front during a Los Angeles power play in the second period.
Earlier in that period, Quick made an alert save on a fine play by the Blue Jackets' Andrew Murray, who fought his way up the right boards with the puck and whipped a pass to Jakub Voracek in the slot. But Quick was squared up and blocked Voracek's wrist shot.
The Kings' Jarret Stoll had the best scoring chance in the first period, on a breakaway 2 minutes in. But Mason blocked a close-range try, his lone shot of the period.
Mason made eight saves in the first 20 minutes, and Quick had 10.
Quick was drafted in the third round in 2005. Mason went in the third round the following year.
Stay with NBC 4 and refresh nbc4i.com for the latest news and information.
To submit a story idea or news tip, e-mail stories@nbc4i.com.
MORE: NBC 4 Local News | Local Crime News
NBC 4 SPORTS: Sports News, Video
NBC 4 POLITICS: Headlines, Interactives & Video
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Advertisement