"Blue Jackets rookie Nikita Filatov was disappointed with the chance he failed to convert last night.

In the context of his development, however, the winger was pleased with the opportunities he received.

Filatov, who failed on a shootout attempt, played a season-high 11 minutes, 33 seconds in a 3-2 loss to the San Jose Sharks. Coach Ken Hitchcock, missing two key forwards, had enough faith in Filatov to play him in the final three minutes of a tie game.

"It's a sign of trust," Filatov said. "I'm not usually on the ice in the final five or six minutes of a period."

Filatov, who had not played 10 minutes in a game this season, bounced around the third and fourth lines because an upper-body injury to center Mike Blunden forced Hitchcock to reshuffle his lines.

Filatov had sat out the previous two games recovering from back pains, which forced him to leave practice Saturday.

Filatov didn't look out of place against the Sharks, a perennial Western Conference contender. He made some nice passes and registered two shots. He had another scoring chance knocked away as he showed great patience, trying to toe-drag the puck between the circles.

Hitchcock allowed Filatov to take the first shot in the shootout. He tried to beat Evgeni Nabokov on the backhand, but the Sharks goaltender poked Filatov's stick as he was about to shoot.

"I should have shot the puck a little faster," Filatov said.

Injury update

The Jackets will be without center Derick Brassard (hand) and left winger Kristian Huselius (upper body) for a second straight game tonight in Atlanta, Hitchcock said. Defenseman Mike Commodore (charley horse) is doubtful."