Paul Stastny #26 of the Colorado Avalanche and Matt Duchene #9 of the Colorado Avalanche look to control the puck against Ryan Russell #25 of the Columbus Blue Jackets at the Pepsi Center on March 1, 2012. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
DENVER (AP) – Steve Mason stopped 32 shots for his first shutout of the season, defensemen Fedor Tyutin and Nikita Nikitin both scored, and the Columbus Blue Jackets snapped a two-year drought against Colorado by beating the Avalanche 2-0 on Thursday night.
The Blue Jackets gave Mason an early lead and he protected it en route to his 19th NHL shutout, which snapped Columbus’ 0-9-1 skid against the Avalanche that dated to the 2009-10 season.
The Avalanche had their four-game winning streak snapped as they were shut out for the seventh time this season. They also missed a chance to move into eighth place in the Western Conference.
Mason withstood a push from the Avalanche, making a key save on a shot by Stefan Elliott early in the third period. He then sprawled on the ice to stuff a shot by Jay McClement at the end of a rush. A shot by Elliott with 2:35 remaining hit the post.
Colorado pulled goalie Semyon Varlamov for an extra attacker with 1:50 left and went on the power play in the final 1:38 but couldn’t break through.
Columbus was on the power play when Nikitin gave the Blue Jackets a 1-0 lead at 12:53 of the first period. He fired a shot from the point that got past Varlamov, whose winning streak was stopped at three — one shy of his season best.
Tyutin, who assisted on Nikitin’s goal, netted his fifth of the season on a slap shot from the top of the left circle that sailed in over the stick of Varlamov.
NOTES: Columbus lost 5-0 to the Avalanche last week. … The Blue Jackets’ Vinny Prospal assisted on both goals. … Left wing Jamie McGinn played in his first game for the Avalanche since being acquired Monday from the San Jose Sharks. … Nikitin has at least one point in seven of his last 10 games. … The Avalanche had scored at least four goals in each of their previous four games.
(© Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)




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