In his first season with the Blue Jackets, Mathieu Garon has started more games than many people would have imagined and made contributions few could have anticipated.

The Jackets signed the 32-year-old goaltender to supply Steve Mason with nights off he rarely received last season. But in winning nine times -- his latest came Saturday in St. Louis -- Garon has seemingly stanched as much bleeding as medical trainer Mike Vogt.

Six of his wins have followed Jackets losses, and his recent play has helped them remain within telescopic sight of the final Western Conference playoff spot.

For all of his production, however, the soft-spoken Garon harbors no illusions about his role in support of the struggling Mason.

"With the talent Mase has and the season he had last season, he is the man," Garon said. "I knew my job would be to give them some games and bring in some experience."

Garon strives to be the steadying veteran influence he never had coming up in the NHL. A season after working with Pittsburgh's Marc-Andre Fleury, he is pushing Mason for playing time while also serving as a mentor.

He not only has earned Mason's trust, but has recorded one more win than the combination of Pascal Leclaire, Fredrik Norrena, Dan LaCosta and Wade Dubielewicz did all of last season.

"When you talk to people in Edmonton (Garon's previous stop) and Pittsburgh, you became aware of how supportive he was of his partners," general manager Scott Howson said. "He's been a great teammate and also has played very well."

Garon doesn't possess Mason's size or natural ability but has carved out a nine-year NHL career through hard work and the practice habits of a consummate professional.

He was one of just two Jackets players on the practice ice Friday, taking defenseman Milan Jurcina with him, as coach Ken Hitchcock gave the team the day off.

"His attention to detail is second to none," goaltenders coach Dave Rook said. "He treats every drill like a game situation."

In training camp, some eyes rolled when Howson suggested that Garon might start 15 to 20 games. Cynics saw him as the goalie destined for Thursday nights in Atlanta and Tuesdays on Long Island, N.Y. Few could have predicted the depth of Mason's decline or the importance of Garon's solid play.

Beyond his numbers -- a 9-8-3 record with 2.76 goals-against average -- Garon has taken some of the pressure off the 21-year-old Mason. He has bought Mason time to spackle holes in his game and spare his confidence from further erosion.

"I'm at that point right now where I know he's the future of the team and I know I can help him," Garon said "It's something I didn't have in my career when I was young, and I wish I had someone older who was not trying to steal my job."

Four seasons ago, Garon raced to a 19-8 record as the Los Angeles Kings' starting goaltender. But in an Olympic year, with a condensed schedule, he began struggling in January. His backup, Jason LaBarbera, had played just five NHL games heading into that season, and the goaltenders coach was not someone Garon entirely trusted.

Garon covertly communicated with his old coach Francois Allaire, then with Anaheim, much the way Mason did a season ago with Rook.

"We couldn't talk directly," Garon said. "He would talk to my agent. It was secret stuff."

He knows firsthand that nobody else on a team can truly help a starting goalie except the position coach and the backup.

Garon got his first taste of mentorship after Edmonton traded him to Pittsburgh a year ago. A season after starting 44 times and winning 28 games, he made just four appearances with the Penguins.

But Fleury, his roommate on the road, sought Garon's counsel and friendship.

"Marc-Andre made me feel like I was part of it," Garon said. "Sometimes, when you are not playing for a while, you feel helpless to the team. But that kept me involved."

Garon played 24 minutes of scoreless relief in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Finals, an outing that helped get his name engraved on the trophy.

"He has been through a lot in his career: winning a Cup, being a part of playoff teams, being a part of non-playoff teams," Mason said. "His experience is invaluable."

The Jackets' franchise goaltender hasn't had someone genuinely competing for playing time since his first season in junior hockey. After initially seeing Garon as a threat, Mason has come to embrace his input.

"I like when he comes and asks questions," Garon said. "It makes you feel like you know your business a little bit."

This season, Garon is bumping into goaltenders coaches who used to play against him. He said he could see himself performing the same duties in a couple of years.

Garon has another season remaining on his contract with the Jackets. His playing time should increase after going 5-3 in January and making a huge stop on St. Louis's Andy McDonald that led to Kris Russell's winning goal Saturday.

"It's not fair to just call Matty a mentor," Rook said. "He's played very well for us and had a calming influence in the room."

treed@dispatch.com

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