"Some critics accuse Blue Jackets coach Ken Hitchcock of not trusting young, skilled players.

Whatever merit the argument holds, it doesn't apply to his faith in goaltender Steve Mason.

As the losses and tough outings mounted, Hitchcock refused to bench the 21-year-old. Hitchcock thought Mason needed to feel good about his game if the Blue Jackets were going to emerge from their funk.

His belief in last season's rookie of the year was rewarded last night in a 3-0 win over the Florida Panthers in Nationwide Arena.

Mason made 32 saves, including 16 in the second period, for his first shutout of the season.

"I've had a couple meetings with Hitch and he's stuck behind me 100 percent," Mason said. "I'm a young guy and things aren't going my way, but Hitch has always been in my corner and that has been huge. I can't thank him enough."

A season after recording 10 shutouts, Mason has struggled to regain his form. He entered the game with a 3.44 goals-against average and an .886 save percentage.

Hitchcock has been critical of Mason, citing soft goals and the need for the big saves that seemed routine last season. But he also kept playing Mason.

Mason made his seventh straight start and Hitchcock said he might play again tonight in Nashville even after he declared Mathieu Garon his starter yesterday morning."