Jan 12th 2009 8:00AM by Eric McErlain (author feed)
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It’s been an eventful couple of weeks for Columbus Blue Jackets forward Nikita Filatov. Fresh off helping Russia to a bronze medal in the 2009 World Junior Champions — Filatov was tied with Canadian wunderkind John Tavares in goals scored with eight — the Blue Jackets recalled Filatov to the NHL roster immediately after the tournament.

In just his second game back with the big club — one depleted by sme key injuries — after his recall, Filatov notched the first hat trick of his career against the Minnesota Wild on Saturday night — a feat he completed while logging just a shade under 10 minutes in ice time. While it’s still early in his career, one thing ought to be clear — Filatov is that sort of natural goal scorer who has the sort of touch that can’t be taught, you just have to be born with it.

On Friday night in Washington after the Blue Jackets surprised the Capitals 3-0, only the second defeat in regulation on home ice for Washington this season, Dmitry Shumin of Sovetsky Sport caught up with Filatov in the visitors locker room to talk to him about his performance at the World Juniors and how it seems as if the rivalry between Russia and Canada has been re-ignited. The translated interview is after the jump.

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