Torres' strength, however, is his ability to change momentum. He has the rare capacity to turn a game 180 degrees with a single play, a huge hit or a timely goal.

He demonstrated it again last night in the Jackets' 2-0 win over the Boston Bruins in Nationwide Arena. Torres scored the winner 6:50 into the third period with a power-play goal.

Barreling down the right wing, Torres accepted a pass from center Antoine Vermette just inside the Bruins' blue line and whipped a quick wrist shot to the far post that seemed to catch goaltender Tim Thomas leaning the wrong way.

"I saw there was a lot of room there," Torres said of his seventh goal this season. "I was fortunate I got the shot off quick and I think I caught him cheating a bit."

Torres has picked the right time to get hot. After spending much of the season recovering from shoulder and knee injuries, he has four goals in the past six games. He also had a third-period, winner on a breakaway in Edmonton on Feb. 26.

The Jackets are 7-0 when Torres scores a goal.

"He's a high energy player when he's moving his feet," captain Rick Nash said. "He's got a great shot and he showed it again tonight."

Torres was having a quiet night up until the goal. He mishandled the puck several times early in the game and appeared to having difficulty finding a rhythm. Then, out of nowhere, Torres seized his one opportunity.

"That's what we needed," coach Ken Hitchcock said. "We needed a new hero. He struggled with the puck in the first part of the game and then he really responded."

Filatov returns

Prized prospect Nikita Filatov will return to the lineup for minor-league Syracuse either tonight or this weekend. He has played just five games since early February due to a sinus infection and virus that caused him to lose 15 pounds.

The winger has restored seven pounds to his lean frame and says he's back to about 170 pounds. His mother flew in from Russia for a second time this season

Filatov was named The Hockey News' No. 1 prospect in the magazine's recent Future Watch edition.

Mr. 500

The Jackets will honor Hitchcock for his 500th career win before the face-off of Thursday night's game against Pittsburgh. Hitchcock became the 13th NHL coach to win 500 games on Feb. 19.

The on-ice ceremony will include majority owner John P. McConnell and general manager Scott Howson.

Injury update

Winger Fredrik Modin said the left knee sprain he suffered against Nashville last Thursday is the same one that recently kept him out eight games. Team doctors have prescribed rest for the injury. Center Michael Peca (concussion) could return Thursday.

Slap shots

The Jackets scratched forward Derek Dorsett and defensemen Christian Backman and Aaron Rome. The Jackets are 9-6-1 against the current NHL division leaders. The Jackets are 16-3-1 when defenseman Mike Commodore registers a point.

treed@dispatch.com