Blue Jackets Notebook: Malhotra returns
by J. Justin Boggs, Columbus Wired

Former Columbus Blue Jackets forward Manny Malhotra made his first appearance in Nationwide Arena Wednesday playing on the second forward line for the San Jose Sharks who defeated Columbus 3-2 in a shootout.

Malhotra was on the ice for over 18 minutes. He did not register any points; however he did get three shots on goal.

Malhotra is current linemates with the NHL’s second leading goal scorer Patrick Marleau.

“It is much like last year when I had the opportunity to play with (Rick) Nash and (Kristian Huselius) here,” Malhotra said. “Once you have the opportunity to play with those type of players, those skilled guys, those game-breaking type of guys, that is always a lot of fun. It has been really fun playing a few games with Patty (Marleau). Hope we can continue to stay on this roll.”

Malhotra only has three points for the season but is a plus-six in 16 games played.

He was not resigned by the Blue Jackets following the 2008-09 season as he was an unrestricted free agent.

Playing for the Sharks has allowed Malhotra to join an elite club. San Jose is in second place in the Western Conference. They have also won six games in a row.

“We’re finding our rhythm,” Malhotra said. “We’ve been stumbling a bit early on. But as of late we’re finding out team game. We’re playing well. Everyone is contributing.”

When Malhotra joined San Jose late in the summer, he was reunited with another for Columbus fan favorite. Jody Shelley is now playing in his second full season in San Jose and was teammates with Malhotra for almost four seasons.

“(Malhotra) is a reliable player,” Shelley said. “He plays hard and he is a good guy. He brings good a dimension to our room. It is nice to have him.”

Filatov gaining ice time

With the injuries to Huselius and Derick Brassard, rookie forward Nikita Filatov has been given more ice time. Filatov has sometimes not been dressed for games as Blue Jackets coach Ken Hitchcock has wanted his young player to have more favorable matchups.

In Wednesday’s game, Filatov was on the ice at key points in the game, both late in the third period as well as being one of the three skaters in the shootout.

“I think he’s learning how to play,” Hitchcock said about Filatov. “It’s a lot easier to get the matchup at home. He’s going to have to play against better players tomorrow. The line did some good things. Filatov wants to shoot the puck and (his linemates) will crash the net.”

Filatov nearly won the game for Columbus midway through the third when his slap shot rung off the glove side post of Nabokov when the match was notched at two.

“(Hitchcock) gave me a chance,” Filatov said about the amount of ice-time he received. “But I think I didn’t use this chance. I didn’t score.

“This is a really good sign for me because it is a big change.”

Shootouts struggling
The Blue Jackets have now lost two shootout games in the last week; going scoreless in both. In Friday’s shootout loss to Pittsburgh, only one of their three shots were on goal.

The same was true on Wednesday as only Rick Nash was able to muster a shot that Sharks goalie Evgeni Nabokov had to stop. Anton Stralman’s and Filatov’s shots missed.

“He poked checked me,” Filatov said about Nabokov during the shootout. “It was at the last moment. I was ready to shoot but he got my stick with his (stick).”