The 22-year-old Blue Jackets goaltender had learned hours earlier that he would make his first NHL start that night against the powerful San Jose Sharks. No way was he phoning his buddies back in Labrador City, Newfoundland.

"I didn't want too many people knowing in case, you know, I got lit up," LaCosta said.

But LaCosta decided the old man deserved a call. Harry LaCosta had been his biggest supporter, the man who never lost faith in a son who had bounced around the ECHL and lost two months of his career to an ankle injury suffered in a 2007 bus crash.

Harry's remarks did not exactly allay LaCosta's jitters.

"When I told him I was starting against the Sharks, the first thing he said was, 'Geez, they're the best team in the league,' " LaCosta recalled. "But he told me to go out there and leave it all on the ice."

LaCosta made his parents and the mining community of 7,200 residents proud. He stopped 28 shots in helping the Blue Jackets to an improbable 3-2 overtime win before a sellout crowd of 18,144 fans.

Two things were gleaned from his performance: LaCosta looked like a pretty good goalie, and his father can't keep a secret.

"Everyone back home found out," LaCosta said. "I had 10 voice mails and about 20 text messages waiting for me in the locker room. I guess some people ordered the NHL Center Ice package just so they could watch the one game."

Turns out they will get another opportunity to see LaCosta, thought to be the only Labrador City native to play in the NHL. Jackets coach Ken Hitchcock said yesterday that LaCosta will start again Tuesday against the Colorado Avalanche.

The Jackets are hoping that rookie sensation Steve Mason, placed on injured reserve Saturday because of mononucleosis, might be ready for Friday's game against the Detroit Red Wings. But Hitchcock says the lanky 6-foot-2 LaCosta, who became the fifth Jackets goalie to start a game season, merits another shot.

"Danny has been very good every time we've used him," Hitchcock said of LaCosta, who also has two NHL relief appearances. "He has talent and he has athleticism, and when he's aggressive and focused like he was (Saturday), he can really help us."

During training camp, nobody envisioned the Jackets starting a goalie who has struggled with his consistency and spent parts of the past two seasons in the ECHL, which is a notch below the American Hockey League. But injuries, illness and ineffective play by others ahead of him have given LaCosta his opportunity.

On Friday, he was recalled from minor-league Syracuse and driven to Pittsburgh by Jackets developmental coach Tyler Wright.

"I just told Danny, 'You never know when you are going to get your chance,' " Wright said. "He has bided his time and been a good pro, biting his tongue when some things didn't go his way."

Fourteen months ago, LaCosta was rehabilitating a badly damaged right ankle after a bus crash involving the Elmira Jackals of the ECHL. He might still be serving as an minor-league backup if Mason had not seized his opportunity in a Nov. 4 promotion to the Jackets.

In Syracuse, he has a 15-14-2 record with a 2.58 goals-against average.

"I can't get too far ahead of myself," LaCosta said. "My situation here is day to day."

LaCosta had much to savor Saturday night, including a splendid shoulder save on Joe Thornton 15 seconds into overtime.

Jackets forward Jason Chimera also presented him with the game puck. LaCosta was unaware that he did his postgame television interview wearing a Syracuse Crunch hat.

Fifteen minutes after the game, he sat in front of his locker still in his goalie pads. LaCosta was surrounded by well wishers, but alone in his thoughts.

He thought about his girlfriend and his parents, Harry and Sarah, both educators, and the strange, circuitous journey that brought him to Nationwide Arena on Saturday night.

Few moments have ever felt so gratifying, he said.

Then, LaCosta picked up his cell phone. He never thought twice about who would receive the first call.

treed@dispatch.com