He hung out with buddies back home. He stuffed himself with Grandma's cooking. He accompanied a female friend to a movie.

For four days, Blue Jackets rookie goaltender Steve Mason got to be a typical 20-year-old kid in Oakville, Ontario. It was a welcome respite from the surreal existence that has been his life since early November.

Refreshed and recharged, Mason returned to form last night in helping the Jackets to a 3-2 overtime win over the Detroit Red Wings in Nationwide Arena.

After showing signs of fatigue heading into the All-Star break, Mason bounced back with a 21-save performance. He stopped Marian Hossa on a first-period breakaway and was stout in the third period, when the defending Stanley Cup champions were threatening to steal another game from the Jackets.

The Red Wings outshot the Jackets 9-2 in the third period.

"(Mason) played strong," coach Ken Hitchcock said. "We needed him in the third period. They turned up the volume We've had the Ghost of the Third Period against them, and it came out again today. That's why the win was so important."

Mason started his 16th consecutive game but appeared much sharper than the goalie who surrendered 13 goals in the last three games before the break.

"It was good to get the rest," said Mason, who skipped the YoungStars Game in Montreal, citing back pain. "I had some nagging things with my body.

"It was just good to get away from the game and not think about it for four or five days."

Mason lowered his NHL-best goals-against average to 2.04. He made huge third-period saves on Jiri Hudler and Hossa. Mason also was a bit fortunate with 6:14 remaining in regulation.

He misplayed a puck behind the net, sailing it to Hossa alone in the slot with an empty net yawning. Hossa fired it wide left.

"Obviously, I got a lucky break on that one," Mason said.

Quite a pairing

Speaking of a good rest, Hitchcock thought his top defensive pairing of Jan Hejda and Mike Commodore appeared tired before the All-Star break, but both were solid last night. Commodore contributed two assists and Hejda was plus-1.

Commodore made a daring play on Rick Nash's winning goal. With no help behind him, Commodore charged in from the right point to keep the puck alive. It caromed off his skate to Nash, who shot it into the empty side of the net.

 

Wading in

Backup goaltender Wade Dubielewicz has been tied down with red tape since being acquired on procedural waivers Jan. 17.

He has been waging battles on two fronts -- immigration and the NHL equipment police. Dubielewicz could not return from Calgary with the team last Wednesday because he didn't have an updated United States work visa. Dubielewicz received approval on Monday.

He still doesn't have his custom-fit goaltender pads he used in Russia because the calf protectors, which flare out, are illegal in the NHL.

Modin out

Blue Jackets forward Fredrik Modin missed last night's game with a shoulder injury. Modin had been playing with broken toes in part because so many forwards had been injured and out of the lineup.

Injury update

Rookie winger Nikita Filatov (knee) saw the team doctor yesterday and hopes to resume skating later this week. Goaltender Pascal Leclaire had successful ankle surgery Friday. He's looking at 10 to 12 weeks of rehabilitation and is expected to be ready for training camp in September.

treed@dispatch.com