As the season continues to unfold, Steve Mason is showing fissures mentally. What was his calling card last year is now his detriment as his mental toughness is no where to be found.

What smacked me across the face to the fact that he is rolling down a hill and gaining speed was after the Ottawa game in which he played a solid game but gave up a softy in the late stages of the 3rd and allow the Senators a 2-1 victory. It wasn't the softy but the statement he made after the game in the Dispatch.

"It's disappointing, and at the end of the day it's my fault because I let in a bad goal, one I've got to stop. I don't need anyone else to tell me that when I make a mistake."

Mr. Mason, I would need to disagree. Your goaltending coach, that you hand selected, better crawling all over you for it. I also think that Ken Hitchcock might have the authority to let you know that you need to tighten it up. Also, reporters who are in essence the voice of the fan and ask the questions that fans don't get to have every reason to tell you that you are making mistakes. A team that they not only follow and cheer for but also the team that they invest their time, money and emotional energies into have every right to know why the assets that they are investing are not performing.

Most would say that the statement made was out of frustration after a loss that put the Jackets losing streak at 4 and nothing more. I tend to disagree as in those rare moments when emotion takes over a players mouth and not some cerebrally scripted quote are exactly when you find out what is really going on in a players head.

What also makes you find out why Mason may be mentally cracking is in his performance. The easy numbers are the goal against (3.50) and save percentage (.889) which point to a player that isn't on his game especially a player that won the Calder last year with numbers like 2.29 goal against average and a .916 save percentage. Here is a stat that tells volumes on Mason's mental toughness; Mason is 8-3-2 this season when facing 25 or more shots, while going 1-4-0 when facing fewer than 25 shots. Every goaltender will tell you that it is harder to stay focused when you don't see rubber for long stretches at a time.

Mason will face Calgary tonight who is one of the teams that he melted down on the last time he met them this year giving up 6 goals on 22 shots. Mason was an equal opportunity giver as 6 different players put one past Mason. Now that was in Calgary, in the first meeting this year at Nationwide it was a 2-1 victory for the CBJ and Mason stood on his head saving 22 of 23. This series has been a microcosm of the season for Mason. The road is again where mental toughness shines through or is exposed. On the road, Mason has a 4.13 goals against average but at the friendly confines of Nationwide Arena he has a respectable 2.77 GAA.

It's no longer a flaw in his game that needs to be fixed like high glove side was last year. This year, it's in between his ears and if they don't fixed that problem any better than Mason's high glove side problem, the Jackets will be on the outside looking in when playoff time comes around.

Stat of the Game - Calgary is 4-12-1 in Columbus all time.

Fire The Cannon!

Eric Smith
Eric.Smith@HockeyBuzz.com

Add my blog to your iGoogle page

Join the Discussion: Chat Room » Message Board »

» Sabres Get Buffalo'd By Joyous Jackets -Trade Scenerio With Pens Heating Up

» The First Noel

» Blue Jackets Un-Hitch Their Head Coach

» Around The League In 60 Seconds

» Around The League In 60 Seconds - Eastern Conference First