Blue Jackets' Zach Werenski: Makes history Wednesday
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Werenski scored the game-winning goal in Wednesday's 4-0 win over Chicago.
Werenski saw his centering attempt early in the first period pinball off Louis Crevier's stick, Alex Vlasic's skate and past Spencer Knight to give Columbus a 1-0 lead, and it proved to be all the support Jet Greaves would need. The goal was also Werenski's 20th of the season, making him the first defenseman in history with 20 goals prior to an Olympic break, per Brian Hedger of The Columbus Dispatch. He's also the third American defenseman ever with consecutive 20-goal campaigns, joining Reed Larson and Hall of Famer Phil Housley. Werenski will now take his talents to Milan with Team USA while riding a seven-game point streak in which he's racked up two goals and 10 points.
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Blue Jackets' Zach Werenski: Dishes pair of assists
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Werenski logged two assists (one on the power play), three shots on goal, two blocked shots and a plus-2 rating in Friday's 4-2 win over the Blackhawks.
This was Werenski's third two-assist game in a row. The 28-year-old continues to roll as the Blue Jackets' best blueliner, and he's tied for the lead among NHL defensemen with 59 points, matching Evan Bouchard. Werenski is at 19 goals, 40 assists, 175 shots on net, 64 blocked shots and a plus-6 rating over 49 appearances this season.
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Blue Jackets' Zach Werenski: Supplies two more helpers
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Werenski notched two assists and two shots on goal in Wednesday's 5-3 win over the Flyers.
Werenski had a hand in first-period goals by Charlie Coyle and Kirill Marchenko. January has been another excellent stretch for Werenski, who has five goals, 12 assists and 40 shots on net over 13 outings this month. He's up to a total of 57 points, which leads all NHL defensemen, as well as 172 shots on net, 62 blocked shots and a plus-4 rating through 48 appearances.
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Blue Jackets' Zach Werenski: Earns share of blue-line point lead
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Werenski notched two assists and three shots on goal in Saturday's 8-5 win over the Lightning.
Werenski is now tied with Cale Makar and Evan Bouchard atop the points list for defensemen -- all have 55, though Werenski has done it in fewer games than the other two. This was his fourth multi-point effort in January. For the season, the 28-year-old is at 19 goals, 36 helpers, 170 shots on net, 61 blocked shots and a plus-4 rating. Injuries are the only thing that have slowed down Werenski over recent years, and he's managed to limit his absences to four games in 2025-26, setting him up to match his 82-point effort from last season.
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Blue Jackets' Zach Werenski: Elite defender in elite territory
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Werenski scored the Blue Jackets' only goal in a 1-0 win over the Stars on Thursday.
It was his 19th marker of the season, and it moved him into sole possession of first place in goals among NHL defenders. Werenski is four goals away from equaling his career high of 23, which he set last season, and he's on a 90-point pace. That would also establish a new career-best mark. He delivered 82 points last season. Cale Makar was the only defender to top 90 points last season, and just two -- Quinn Hughes and Makar -- hit 90 the year before. Werenski is an elite defender in elite territory.
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Blue Jackets' Zach Werenski: Tallies on power play
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Werenski scored a power-play goal on five shots in Thursday's 4-1 win over the Canucks.
Werenski has earned four goals and seven assists over eight outings in January. His last two goals have come with the man advantage, where he continues to see ample time on the first unit. The star defenseman is up to 18 goals, 51 points, 160 shots on net, 58 blocked shots and a plus-6 rating through 43 appearances.
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Blue Jackets' Zach Werenski: Twenty points in last 12 games
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Werenski had a goal and two assists in a 5-3 win over the Flames on Tuesday.
His power-play goal early in the third put his squad up 3-2. Werenski has been gold this season. He has put up points in 11 of his last 12 games (eight goals, 12 assists), and he leads the Blue Jackets in scoring by a wide margin. He leads the team in goals (17), assists (13) and points (50). Those points put him behind Cale Makar on the NHL's list of scorers from the blue line. Oh yeah, Werenski has also been a complete beast at home. His points Tuesday extended his personal home point streak to 15 games and 29 points (11 goals, 18 assists).
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Blue Jackets' Zach Werenski: Nets goal Tuesday
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Werenski scored a goal on two shots and went minus-3 in Tuesday's 5-2 loss to the Sharks.
Werenski has gotten on the scoresheet in eight straight outings (seven goals, eight assists), with only a lower-body injury slowing him down by sidelining him for four games during that span. The 28-year-old defenseman continues to be one of the absolute best from the blue line while working massive minutes for the Blue Jackets. Werenski is at 16 goals, 45 points, 141 shots on net, 54 blocked shots and a plus-5 rating through 38 appearances.
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Blue Jackets' Zach Werenski: Records two points Sunday
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Werenski scored a goal and added an assist in Sunday's 5-4 overtime loss to the Penguins.
Werenski has made the most of his chances since returning from his lower-body injury, posting four points (one goal, three assists) in his last two games. The star blueliner has racked up 44 points in 37 outings this season, with 15 goals and 29 assists, and he remains one of the best offensive defensemen in the league. He ranks second in points among defensemen, as he only trails Cale Makar (47) from the Avalanche.
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Blue Jackets' Zach Werenski: Two helpers in return to lineup
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Werenski notched two assists in Saturday's 5-1 win over the Sabres.
The star defenseman missed the four games with a lower-body injury. Werenski wasted little time showing he was fully healthy in his return, helping to set up Denton Mateychuk for the afternoon's first tally just three minutes into the first period. Werenski then had a hand in Cole Sillinger's empty-netter in the third. Werenski has delivered 14 goals and 42 points in 36 contests this season. Only Cale Makar, with 45 points in 39 games, has been more productive among NHL blueliners.
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Blue Jackets' Zach Werenski: Removed from IR
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Werenski (lower body) was activated from injured reserve Saturday.
Following a four-game absence, Werenski will return to the top pairing and first power-play unit against Buffalo on Saturday. He has amassed 14 goals, 40 points, 132 shots on net and 52 blocked shots across 35 appearances this season.
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Blue Jackets' Zach Werenski: Set to return Saturday
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Werenski (lower body) is expecting to play against the Sabres on Saturday, barring any setbacks, Jeff Svoboda of the Blue Jackets' official site reports.
Werenski has been on the shelf for the Jackets' last four games due to his lower-body injury. Prior to his absence, the 28-year-old blueliner was riding a five-game point streak during which he had four multi-point performances. In order to suit up in Saturday's matchup, Werenski will need to first be activated off injured reserve.
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Blue Jackets' Zach Werenski: Moves to IR
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Werenski (lower body) was placed on injured reserve Sunday.
In a corresponding move, Columbus activated Mathieu Olivier (upper body) from injured reserve. Olivier will return to the lineup against the Islanders on Sunday, while Werenski will miss his second straight game. The 28-year-old Werenski doesn't have an exact timeline for his recovery, but he remains day-to-day and is eligible to come off injured reserve whenever he is ready to play.
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Blue Jackets' Zach Werenski: Not playing Sunday
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Werenski (lower body) won't play against the Islanders on Sunday, Jeff Svoboda of the Blue Jackets' official site reports.
Werenski will miss his second straight game, and it's unclear when he will be ready to return to the lineup. He has amassed 14 goals, 40 points, 132 shots on net and 52 blocked shots across 35 appearances this season.
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Blue Jackets' Zach Werenski: Doubtful for Sunday
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Werenski (lower body) is unlikely to play Sunday against the Islanders, Mark Scheig of The Hockey Writers reports.
Werenski missed Saturday's morning skate, and he's undergoing further evaluation after he was injured Saturday in Anaheim. The star defenseman had a five-game scoring streak, tallying five goals and 10 points, before missing Monday's game in Los Angeles. Overall, Werenski has 14 goals, 26 assists, 132 shots on goal and 52 blocked shots across 35 appearances this season.
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Blue Jackets' Zach Werenski: Not playing Monday
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Werenski (lower body) won't play against the Kings on Monday.
Werenski is day-to-day and will miss at least one game after sustaining an injury in Saturday's 4-3 loss to Anaheim. He has accumulated 14 goals, 40 points, 132 shots on net and 52 blocked shots across 35 appearances this season. Due to Werenski's absence, Jake Christiansen will likely be in the lineup for Monday's contest.
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Blue Jackets' Zach Werenski: Considered day-to-day
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Werenski (lower body) is day-to-day, according to Aaron Portzline of The Athletic on Sunday.
Werenski might miss Monday's matchup against the Kings, but he could be back shortly after the holiday break. He didn't suffer any broken bones after blocking a shot late in Saturday's 4-3 loss to Anaheim. Werenski has amassed 14 goals, 40 points, 132 shots on net and 52 blocked shots across 35 appearances this season.
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Blue Jackets' Zach Werenski: Leaves late after shot block
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Werenski sustained an apparent lower-body injury on a blocked shot in Saturday's game versus the Ducks, and there was no update on his status after the contest, Aaron Portzline of The Athletic reports.
Werenski had to crawl off the ice and needed assistance getting to the locker room, so there is at least moderate concern with this injury. Prior to getting hurt, he picked up a goal and an assist Saturday, giving him five goals and five helpers during his five-game point streak. The defenseman's status for Monday's game versus the Kings is up in the air pending further evaluation, but an absence of any length would be a significant blow to Columbus' blue line.
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Blue Jackets' Zach Werenski: Carries offense in Thursday's loss
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Werenski scored two goals in Thursday's 5-2 loss to the Wild.
The star blueliner was the only Columbus player to get a puck past Jesper Wallstedt, blasting home a one-timer late in the first period before snapping a shot in off the post on a solo rush late in the second. Werenski has produced back-to-back two-goal performances while putting an erratic start to the season firmly in his rearview mirror, and since the beginning of November, he's delivered an eye-popping 10 goals and 30 points in 24 games.
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Blue Jackets' Zach Werenski: Proving last season was no fluke
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Werenski scored twice and added an assist in a 4-3 overtime win over the Ducks on Tuesday.
Both goals were off rushes. Werenski followed the play on the first goal, took a pass as he entered the zone and wired a low wrister when he got into the left circle. He carried the puck from his zone into theirs and wired another wrist shot on his second. Werenski snapped a seven-game goal slump, and he now has 11 goals, 36 points and 120 shots in 33 games this season. He's proving that his 23-goal, 82-point, 298-shot outburst last year was real. Werenski is currently the second-best offensive defender in the NHL.
