Jackets’ Gerbe still proving himself

If anybody had a reason to sulk, it was Nathan Gerbe.

After reigniting his NHL career by helping the Blue Jackets stay in playoff contention despite a mountain of injuries, Gerbe was lumped into the Jackets’ second practice group when the team opened a training camp preparing for the league’s upcoming 24-team playoffs.

Gerbe, of course, didn’t sulk about it. It’s not his style, not even a little, and it would have wasted time that he didn’t have to spare.

Instead, the shortest player on record to play in the NHL put every inch of his 5-foot-4 frame to work — aiming again to prove that he’s worth a spot in the lineup when the Jackets open a best-of-five qualifying-round series on Aug. 2 against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

“First and foremost, I’m excited for the opportunity to play (in camp),” said Gerbe, who is slated to grind through another practice on Friday, his 33rd birthday. “Any time you get on the ice, it’s an opportunity to show something.

“As of right now, I’m not in the lineup, but no matter what part I play on this team, I want to help it win — and if we get past the (opening round), then make a good, long run to the finals. That’s been my goal.”

Nearing the end of camp, Gerbe appears to be making progress. He scored goals in two of the Jackets’ first four scrimmages and has shown typical tenacity and fearlessness in all four. He’s also back to skating at a high level after recovering from a hernia procedure in March.

After leaving his wife and three young kids at their home near Cleveland, Gerbe’s focus now is entirely on the postseason.

“Obviously, as you get older, you don’t get these opportunities too much, so you cherish your time at the rink at this time of the season,” he said. “In playoff hockey, you cherish every moment you’re here.”

Ready to kill

Before signing with Columbus last summer, Gus Nyquist hadn’t been used as a penalty-killing forward.

He logged a total of 7 minutes, 33 seconds in short-handed ice time in 481 games for the Detroit Red Wings over eight seasons, and only 19 seconds in short-handed situations in 19 games with San Jose.

It was a different story with the Blue Jackets, who experimented with Nyquist as a penalty-killer early and continued as the season progressed. He finished the season with 45:56 in short-handed ice time and is prepared to keep filling that role.

“We’ll see,” Nyquist said. “I don’t think we’ve really gotten into that, but if that’s something they want me to do, that’s a role I take a lot of pride in and I want to be out there killing penalties.” bhedger@dispatch.com @Brianhedger