Jackets blank Panthers

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - Jason Chimera scored for the third

straights game and Steve Mason stopped 32 shots for his first

shutout of the season to lead the Columbus Blue Jackets past the

Florida Panthers 3-0 on Wednesday night.

Derick Brassard ended a 14-game scoring drought with a late goal

for Columbus, which captured a showdown between teams that had each

won just one of their previous nine games.

Samuel Pahlsson added an odd empty-netter with 1:28 left,

scoring unassisted after winning a center-ice faceoff.

Mason, who won the Calder Trophy last season while posting 10

shutouts in his rookie year, had given up 13 goals in the Blue

Jackets' three-game losing skid.

The Panthers lost their third in a row overall and fourth

straight on the road.