Allen York has spent his first pro season packing and unpacking -- not his goaltending gear, but his suitcase.
In an odd bit of handing for a rookie, the Blue Jackets have involved the 22-year-old in nearly 20 transactions this season, bouncing him between the NHL, American Hockey League and East Coast Hockey League.
All the while, he's played only 22 games combined at all three levels.
"A couple of friends posted on my Facebook the other day just pictures of suitcases," York told The Columbus Dispatch. "The longest I've been anywhere is three weeks."
York has been a busy man in Columbus the last two games, replacing Blue Jackets starter Steve Mason in ugly losses to Edmonton (6-3 on Sunday) and Detroit (7-2 on Monday).
He has almost single-handedly saved the Blue Jackets from an even worse in each of those two games. York stopped all 10 shots he faced vs. the Oilers, and stopped 10 of 11 shots against the Red Wings.
A year ago, York was playing his junior season at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He opened this season as the No. 4 goaltender on the Blue Jackets' depth chart, but Mason's woeful play, and repeated injuries to Mark Dekanich (No. 2) and Curtis Sanford (No. 3) have forced him into seven NHL games this season.
When he's not boarding a plane, that is.
NOTES, QUOTES
Central foes fattening up against Jackets
--Monday's 7-2 loss to Detroit dropped the Blue Jackets to 3-17-2 vs. the Central Division this season. The Jackets have been outscored 89-46 in those games, with a game each against Detroit and St. Louis remaining.
--After an ugly 6-3 loss to 29th place Edmonton on Sunday, Blue Jackets interim coach Todd Richards said he expected a "strong" response Monday in Detroit. Not exactly. The Blue Jackets trailed 6-0 and were outshot 31-13 through two periods, on their way to a 7-2 loss in Joe Louis Arena.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "It had nothing to do with our goaltending. It could have been Patrick Roy in there." -- Blue Jackets interim coach Todd Richards, after pulling goaltender Steve Mason early in the second period of a -2 loss to Detroit.
ROSTER REPORT
PLAYER NOTES:
--G Steve Mason was pulled from Monday's 7-2 loss to Detroit after allowing six goals on 28 shots, the second straight game in which he was pulled. Mason got the hook less than 24 hours earlier in a 6-3 home loss vs. Edmonton.
--C Derick Brassard hung a minus-4 rating Monday in Detroit. In an up and down season, Brassard now has a minus-27 rating in 68 games, one of the worst ratings in the NHL.
--C Mark Letestu scored for the third straight game, snapping a 7-0 whitewashing against Detroit in the third period. Letestu has scored a career-high 11 goals for the Blue Jackets this season.
MEDICAL WATCH:
--D Fedor Tyutin (broken hand) is out of the season.
--C Derek MacKenzie (concussion) is out indefinitely.
--LW Kristian Huselius (lower body) is out indefinitely.
--D Radek Martinek (concussion) is out for the season.
--D Marc Methot (broken jaw) is out for the season.
--G Curtis Sanford (torn leg muscle) is out for the season.
