"Nikita Filatov appreciates that his coaches are happier with his competitive level.

The Blue Jackets winger is glad teammates recognize his willingness to block a key shot as he did last week in a 3-0 win against Montreal.

But Filatov knows the Jackets didn't use the No. 6 overall pick in the 2008 NHL Draft to develop a 185-pound, shot-blocking grinder.

"For forwards and especially guys like me, I have to start scoring goals," Filatov said.

The 20-year-old forward has two assists and no goals heading into tonight's game against the St. Louis Blues.

Nobody in the organization is saying publicly that Filatov needs to produce. That's because nobody has to.

He understands the Jackets are starving for goals and realizes coach Scott Arniel replaced him with Kyle Wilson on the second line late in Saturday's 3-2 loss to Minnesota for offensive purposes.

"I have been thinking a lot about it," said Filatov, pointless in 11 games. "Everybody knows it's hard to score in this league and sometimes it even takes good players some time to get going. But it's new for somebody like me I have never been a guy who hasn't scored (a goal) in 13 games."

Filatov's comments are in contrast to those made by veteran Antoine Vermette, who said recently he wasn't bothered by his goal-scoring slump as long as the team is winning."