Mason saves Blue Jackets’ win

COLUMBUS (AP) — Rookie Steve Mason made 20 saves for his third shutout in Columbus’ 3-0 victory over Philadelphia on Saturday night, the Blue Jackets’ first win over the Flyers in franchise history.

Mason improved to 10-7-1 and lowered his NHL-best goals-against average to 1.87.

Jan Hejda and Andrew Murray scored in the first period, and Manny Malhotra completed the scoring in the second. Columbus is 1-4-3 against Philadelphia.

The Blue Jackets took advantage of the travel-weary Flyers and an energized sellout crowd of 18,402 — the team’s largest of the season — to take the early lead.

Philadelphia was delayed landing in Chicago on Friday and missed the morning skate before losing 5-1 to the Blackhawks on Friday night. Afterward, fog prevented the Flyers’ plane from taking off and the team didn’t arrive in Columbus until mid-afternoon Saturday.

Hejda scored his second of the season at 3:22. Although the goal was unassisted, Derek Dorsett was instrumental on the play. After coming out of a scramble with the puck to the right of the goal his shot got behind goalie Antero Niittymaki, but Ossi Vaananen was there to clear it off the goal line.

Unfortunately for hVaananen, the puck went straight to Hejda in the left circle and he quickly fired it into the back of the net. It was Columbus’ first goal in 131:08.