SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Blue Jackets prospect Nick Holden opened the kitchen door that leads to the garage, springing a large white-and-tan dog like a hockey player released from the penalty box.

The kitchen filled with sounds of toenails clacking on the linoleum floor as Chance, a lab-hound mix, jumped wildly to greet Holden and a visitor.

"OK, down, down," Holden commanded.

The Syracuse Crunch defenseman began fostering rescued dogs last season with teammate Jonathan Sigalet. He is still finding ways to channel Chance's pent-up energy.

On a recent autumn afternoon, Holden tossed a ping-pong ball into the living room and Chance eagerly retrieved it.

"He's excited," he said. "He just wants to play."

The 22-year-old Holden can relate. He spent nearly two months recovering from mononucleosis, an energy-sapping virus that forced him to miss most of Jackets training camp.

While he was working to regain his stamina, Holden saw teammate Mathieu Roy get promoted and play seven games for the parent club and the Jackets trade for defenseman Anton Stralman.

"You can't think about that stuff," said Holden, an undrafted free agent signed in 2008. "I have to focus on getting back and playing well."

Holden has done just that. The 6-foot-4, 211-pound defenseman has a goal and an assist in his first four games, playing in all facets and providing stability for a blue-line corps sorely lacking it.

The Crunch is struggling. It has the fewest wins (four) in the American Hockey League and has surrendered the second-most goals (47) in the Eastern Conference.

Holden shares in the responsibility. The second-year pro doesn't think his puck-handling or decision-making has returned to form.

To Crunch coach Ross Yates, that sounds like the talk of a good teammate.

"Nick has been the least of our problems," Yates said. "He has been really steady. All he needs is more games under his belt."

Jackets assistant general manager Chris MacFarland, who was in attendance for Holden's season debut Oct. 24, sees a player who is mature beyond his professional experience.

"Night after night, he's been a solid player for them," MacFarland said. "Nick is well prepared, he takes the game very seriously and he's methodical in his approach."

Holden arrived at the rink a half-hour early for his first game in the War Memorial at Oncenter. The loyal fan base in this working-class central New York town gave him a nice ovation as he hopped over the boards for his first shift.

Defensemen must make quick reads in the 58-year-old arena, which has a condensed neutral zone affording little open ice. Holden demonstrated considerable poise against the Rochester Americans.

His first power-play shift resulted in a goal when his low, hard shot from the point was redirected by forward Tim Miller.

Holden made good first passes and defused several Rochester rushes with smart poke checks. Although not a physical force, he showed a willingness to stand up to forwards several times, drawing a retaliatory elbowing penalty in the third period.

Yates had Holden on the ice in the final minute of a tie game.

"It just felt good to get back out there and get my feet wet," Holden said after the 3-2 overtime loss. "I kept my shifts short early, but I'm really not that tired."

On Friday night, Holden scored a short-handed goal with 13 seconds left in regulation, jumping into a rush and converting a cross-ice feed from housemate Tom Sestito. The Crunch lost again in overtime, however, with Holden in the penalty box when the winner was scored.

The losing is wearing on Holden and his teammates. The club held a team meeting Sunday and invited every player to speak up. As Holden grows more comfortable in his role, management wants him to assume more leadership.

"We are getting outworked and taking too many penalties," Holden said. "We have to be more accountable to each other."

Life is returning to normal for a player who was home sleeping 17 hours a day at the start of training camp.

Holden, Sestito and Sigalet live in a rented two-story house about 10 minutes outside Syracuse. The most rambunctious roommate is Chance, who has free reign of the place when the players are home.

Chance is the third dog Holden has fostered and sleeps on the floor in Holden's bedroom at night.

"We thought we had a potential owner for him, but the people bailed out last weekend," Holden said.

The canine caregiver, like those he fosters, is searching for a permanent home. The War Memorial is nice for now. Nationwide Arena is desired.

But Holden doesn't obsess about the future. He says he doesn't follow the Jackets closely, leaving that task to his father, John.

"When (the Jackets) played in Edmonton, my dad went to the game and he wore my jersey," Holden said. "The only thing I can control is how I play here."

For now, Holden is content throwing ping-pong balls and retrieving loose pucks.

treed@dispatch.com