Defenseman Mike Commodore took a significant step closer to returning to the Blue Jackets lineup yesterday when he performed a series of practice drills meant to test his tender groin.

Coaches and a handful of players took the ice with Commodore, simulating game conditions that required him to make quick, unpredictable movements.

"There were no issues," coach Ken Hitchcock said. "No problems, no setbacks.

"He's not a health issue anymore now; he's a conditioning issue."

Commodore has yet to play this season after injuring his groin early in training camp and again two days before the season opener.

He traveled yesterday with the Blue Jackets to Calgary, but it's doubtful he'll dress Tuesday against the Flames. Hitchcock's hope yesterday was that Commodore will play at some point on this four-game trip.

"He's going to join us (today) at practice," Hitchcock said. "It should give us a real good read on where he's at with his conditioning, how much he can handle right now."

In the hunt

Goaltender Steve Mason is 4-1 with a 2.35 goals-against average and .925 save percentage, an early answer to speculation that he could suffer a sophomore slump.

A hot start won't hurt his chances to play for Team Canada in the 2010 Olympics in February in Vancouver.

Mason and four others -- Vancouver's Roberto Luongo, New Jersey's Martin Brodeur, Pittsburgh's Marc-Andre Fleury and Carolina's Cam Ward -- are in the running for the two spots.

Here's how the other four are faring:

• Luongo, 3-4-0, 3.41 GAA, .870 save percentage

• Brodeur, 4-3-0, 2.68, .903

• Fleury, 7-0-0, 2.09, .922

• Ward, 2-4-1, 2.42, .926

Slap shots

Goaltender Mathieu Garon will get a start on this trip, likely Thursday against one of his former clubs, the Edmonton Oilers. Nash had the franchise-high 11th short-handed goal of his career Saturday. David Vyborny (seven) is second on the list, followed by Jason Chimera (four), and Sergei Fedorov, Tyler Wright, Mike Sillinger and Adam Foote (all with three).

aportzline@dispatch.com