In the past nine games, Blue Jackets goaltenders have combined for a 2.28 goals-against average and .915 save percentage.

They have one win to show for those solid numbers.

These days, Steve Mason and Mathieu Garon are working without a net even as they guard one. It's because the Jackets have scored 11 goals in the past nine games, including one each in the past five games.

But neither Mason nor Garon is complaining.

"It's weird, we haven't been scoring goals lately, but the whole team is playing better defensively," Garon said. "It's a start, and it's what will give us a chance to win once the goals start to come again."

The Jackets and their goaltenders have endured a bizarre season. They scored plenty of goals early but also surrendered them at an alarming rate.

The Jackets allowed six goals or more eight times in the first 28 games.

"The team is playing much better in front of us and obviously that makes our jobs easier," Mason said earlier in the week.

But the offense has evaporated, putting tremendous pressure on the goaltenders. One mistake might be too many.

Garon, who hasn't won since Nov. 16, was eight minutes from a shutout Thursday night only to surrender two late goals on defensive mistakes in Nashville's 2-1 overtime win.

"We're goalies and we're used to the pressure," Garon said. "It's a good challenge for both of us."

Hitchcock regretful?

Coach Ken Hitchcock said yesterday that he wonders whether he should have started the "win and you're in" goaltender policy before Dec. 20 in Phoenix.

It's a strange confession given that only Mason has won since it was instituted -- the Jackets are 1-3-2 in that stretch -- but both goalies have played better.

Mason will start tonight against Colorado.

Umberger misses out

Forward R.J. Umberger was not among the 23 players chosen for the U.S. Olympic hockey team.

Umberger has 13 goals, halfway to matching his career high from last season. His former Ohio State teammate Ryan Kesler (Vancouver) did make the club.

Eye-catching guards

Most players sheathe their skate blades in team-issued skate guards. Not Milan Jurcina. He has a pair of unusual leopard-skin guards, a gift from former Boston Bruins teammate P.J. Stock in 2002.

"I was being sent back to my junior team in Halifax and P.J. knew I liked them," Jurcina said. "I've had them ever since."

Slap shots

Defenseman Mike Commodore will likely be a healthy scratch for a third straight game. Forward Jake Voracek said he was not hooked on the play in overtime that led to Nashville's goal. Former Jacket Dan Fritsche, who's playing for the Syracuse Crunch, has made the American Hockey League all-star game.

treed@dispatch.com