"The San Jose Sharks cracked Steve Mason's goaltender mask this weekend. The confidence he wore like armor emerged unscathed.

Mason made 33 saves last night to backstop the Blue Jackets to a 3-2 overtime win in the Ericsson Globe.

Opening the season against one of the NHL's most potent attacks, he registered a .921 save percentage in two games, allowing only one even-strength goal. He withstood a Sharks barrage last night that included eight power-play opportunities and a second-period Patrick Marleau shot that caught him in the throat protector.

There was a short delay, with the Jackets killing a penalty, that enabled Mason to recover and get a new mask.

"He got hit pretty good and I'm sure his bell got rung a bit," coach Scott Arniel said. "He wanted to catch his breath for a moment."

Mason was at his best - and perhaps most fortunate - in the third period as the Jackets were outshot 13-4 and the Sharks hit a pair of goal posts. He also made a spectacular point-blank stop on Dany Heatley with the score tied at 1."