The last time the Los Angeles Kings visited Nationwide Arena, Blue Jackets goaltender Steve Mason looked like a player destined to build on his status as the NHL's top rookie from a season ago.

He made 27 saves that night, improving his record to 4-1 and making his case for inclusion on the Canadian Olympic team.

The date was Oct. 17, 2009, and it marked the last time Mason won consecutive games. His inability to gain any momentum continued last night in a 4-1 loss to the Kings.

"That's the reason we're in the position we are because we haven't been able to put a string of wins together for a long time," said Mason, whose club has one winning streak since Nov. 19. "And it's why we are sitting in 14th place."

Mason, who had won two of his past three starts, was clearly frustrated after the game. He used the word embarrassing three times in a 2-minute, 15-second interview.

Coming off a 3-2 win Tuesday over the Nashville Predators, the Blue Jackets started quickly, registering 11 of the first 13 shots. But Matt Greene's right point shot deflected off a Jackets defender and past Mason at 11:05.

The Jackets never recovered. The Kings made it 2-0 late in the second as Anze Kopitar accepted a drop pass, cut to his left across the high slot and took a low shot just inside the right post.

"It's tough for a goalie to play something like that when he puts it off the post," Mason said

Mason allowed four goals on just 18 shots. It was the 14th time in 37 starts an opponent had scored at least four goals against him.

He lay facedown on the ice for at least five seconds after Kopitar made it 4-0 with the Kings on a two-man advantage midway through the third period.

"It's embarrassing, it's frustrating and it was like the final nail in the coffin," Mason said.

Sick bay

The Blue Jackets were without two defensemen, Anton Stralman and Milan Jurcina, because of the flu. Stralman is the Jackets' power-play quarterback. The power play went 0 of 3.

Shepard falls ill

Ritchie Shepard, a legend within the Columbus hockey community, is recovering from a stroke suffered this month. Shepard, 81, serves as a volunteer assistant to NHL officials at Blue Jackets home games.

"In every town we go to, there are people you look forward to seeing, and in Columbus that's Ritchie," said linesman Brian Murphy, president of the NHL officials association, who worked last night's game. "To not have him here it's like something is missing."

It's unclear if Shepard will return. He was moved to a nursing home yesterday in Bexley.

Slap shots

Blue Jackets coach Ken Hitchcock said Derek Dorsett (forearm/wrist) should not miss much time because of his injury. Kopitar scored his 100th and 101st goals. The press box was crawling with NHL scouts last night, including three from Washington. Other teams represented were Pittsburgh, Minnesota, Florida, Tampa Bay, Los Angeles and Vancouver.

Dispatch reporter Aaron Portzline contributed to this story.

treed@dispatch.com