"Antoine Vermette is having a career season with the Blue Jackets, but there will be no celebrating. For the first time in six seasons, Vermette's team will miss the Stanley Cup playoffs.

"I won't lie. It's a tough situation to be in," Vermette said. "I remember last season coming to Columbus (from Ottawa at the trade deadline). That was so much fun.

"I didn't have as many points at the end of the season, but it was a much more rewarding season."

Thanks to a big night by Vermette and Kristian Huselius, the Blue Jackets earned a 5-3 win last night over the Edmonton Oilers before 13,603 in Nationwide Arena, a showdown between the two worst clubs in the Western Conference.

It was a much-needed burst of skill, with captain Rick Nash out of the lineup because of lower body injuries and the stomach flu.

For Huselius, this is nothing new. He had one goal, three assists and a plus-3 rating, but he has been a proven point producer in the NHL for many seasons.

Vermette, on the other hand, is thriving in Columbus since the trade from Ottawa, where he struggled to crack the top six and most often played on the wing.

With one goal and two assists last night, he set a career high with 55 points. His 33 assists are a career high, and his 22 goals are three short of a personal high."