Predators top Jackets behind Mason in goal

Mason had 35 saves to make the lead stand up for the Predators, who snapped a 5-game losing streak.
COLUMBUS (AP) -- Time almost stood still for Nashville Predators backup goalie Chris Mason as he tried to preserve a narrow third-period lead.
"I was just hoping the clock would speed up," he said after Wednesday night's 4-2 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets. "I was just hoping the guys could get the puck out when we had a chance."
Mason had 35 saves to make the lead stand up and Jeremy Stevenson, Dan Hamhuis, David Legwand and Scott Hartnell had goals for the Predators, who snapped a five-game road losing skid. Adam Hall had two assists.
"We had a lot of guys contribute," coach Barry Trotz said. "We had some big saves from Chris Mason. We had a lot of pieces and a lot of people contributed in their own way tonight. We'll take the two points."
Sixth straight loss
As for the Blue Jackets, it was more of the same. They lost their sixth in a row and 10th in their last 11 games.
"We didn't show up to play for a period and a half and it cost us the hockey game," coach Gerard Gallant said. "We played a great third period, but it's just one period -- we can't do it for 60 minutes. That's been our problem all season long."
Fans have become increasingly disenchanted with Columbus president and general manager Doug MacLean, whose team has the worst record in the NHL (5-17) and the fewest goals in the league (40) by far.
Midway through the third period, a fan on the glass held up a sign that read, "Trade MacLean."
Nikolai Zherdev and Manny Malhotra scored for Columbus.
Marek Zidlicky's long pass from the defensive zone all the way to Stevenson near the far blue line led to the first goal. Stevenson took the pass, skated down the right wing and beat goalie Pascal Leclaire high on the stick side at 15:01 of the opening period.
Columbus tied it 25 seconds into the second period with a flurry that began with Zherdev's centering pass from the back boards.
David Vyborny was stopped by Mason but the puck bounced out to Sergei Fedorov, with Mason using his stick to deflect Fedorov's shot. The puck ricocheted to Zherdev in the left circle and he had almost an empty net for his fourth goal.
Notes
Columbus D Adam Foote strained his groin in the first period and did not return. ... Nashville lost the previous three meetings, the past two in overtime. ... Nashville's Kimmo Timonen's five-game points streak ended. ... Leclaire had a career-high 37 saves.