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Blue Jackets notebook: Dubielewicz unlikely to play much in stretch
Sunday,
March 15, 2009 3:25 AM
The Columbus Dispatch
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Blue Jackets backup goaltender Wade Dubielewicz has earned the trust of coach Ken Hitchcock. But
has he earned another start?
Hitchcock said he has not ruled out using Dubielewicz again before the end of the regular season April 11. But he was clear that rookie Steve Mason will get most of the work, including today against the Detroit Red Wings in Nationwide Arena. Dubielewicz made 27 saves Friday in a 5-3 win over the Chicago Blackhawks, his first start in five weeks. Mason, who had started the previous 14 games, has had a cold. Dubielewicz, plucked from waivers Jan. 17, has made just three appearances. He spent the first half of the season playing in Russia, and Hitchcock said Dubielewicz was slow to readjust to the smaller North American rinks and sustained flurries of action. Hitchcock said he has seen improvement in Dubielewicz since a 4-1 loss Feb. 6 to Pittsburgh. "Dubie has been up to speed for a while now and he played well (Friday) night," Hitchcock said. Dubielewicz allowed two power-play goals and a third just as a power play expired. He had some difficulty controlling rebounds, but made a huge stop on Patrick Kane as the Jackets were protecting a one-goal lead in the final minutes with the Blackhawks on the power play and their goalie pulled. The Jackets are building a decent cushion between themselves and nonplayoff teams -- six points heading into last night's games -- but Hitchcock said he won't use that as a gauge when to rest Mason. They don't play back-to-back games again until March 28-29 in a home-and-home with St. Louis. Spread the wealthFive goaltenders have won at least one game for the Blue Jackets this season: Steve Mason (28), Pascal Leclaire (four), Fredrik Norrena (one), Dan LaCosta (two) and Dubielewicz (one). "That's pretty wild," defenseman Mike Commodore said. "We're lucky we've had so many guys step in and play well for us this season. It's a big reason we're where we are in the standings." Lineup changesHitchcock plans to make two other lineup changes for today's game. Defenseman Christian Backman, scratched the past nine games, replaces Aaron Rome and forward Andrew Murray goes in for Derek Dorsett. Slap shotsBlue Jackets radio analyst Bill Davidge will miss today's game because of arthroscopic knee surgery. He will be replaced by Mark Wyant. Left winger Nikita Filatov (sinus infection) has returned to the lineup in minor-league Syracuse with two goals in two games. Story toolsToday’s Top Stories |
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