Player of the Week - April 13

The Hockey News’ player of the week for April 6 to April 12, 2009 is St. Louis Blues netminder Chris Mason, with special mention to Nikolai Khabibulin. 

Though a tough decision, with Khabibulin going 2-1-0, with a shutout against the No. 2-seeded Red Wings, the deciding factor was St. Louis’ Friday night game against Columbus. 

Ending the season with a bang, Mason, a Red Deer, Alta., native posted his sixth shutout of the season against Colorado on Sunday after moving ahead of the Blue Jackets to secure the sixth seed in the West.

The 32-year-old, who was acquired from Nashville for a fourth round pick in 2008, had a perfect week, going 3-0-0, with a 3.33 goals-against average and .969 save percentage against the likes of Phoenix, Columbus and Colorado.

The Blues, No. 1 in goals-against since the all-star break, are headed to the playoffs for the first time in five years, with huge thanks to Mason’s stellar play (2.41 GAA, .916 SP), and will face off against Roberto Luongo and his Canucks on Wednesday.