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On a night that seemed scripted, Zach Werenski finally found the back of the net for the Columbus Blue Jackets. His first goal of the season, coming with just 3:14 remaining in the third period, tied the game at 1-1 and ultimately propelled the Blue Jackets to a 2-1 shootout victory over the Dallas Stars at Nationwide Arena on November 5.
The goal not only ended a 13-game scoring drought to start the season but also extended Werenski's point streak to five games. It also made up for an accidental role he played in granting Jason Robertson, the Stars' second-leading scorer, a breakaway earlier in the game. The win was a thrilling comeback for the only NHL franchise Werenski has ever known, and it came against the team that tried to acquire him in a blockbuster trade on July 1.
The drought was more than twice as long as Werenski's previous career high of five games without a goal to start a season, set in 2020-21. It was nowhere near his career-long 38-game goal drought from October 21, 2023, to February 13, 2024, but this latest slump loomed large after a tumultuous offseason.
Even while collecting 12 assists in the Blue Jackets' first 13 games, Werenski's critics pointed to his lack of goals following a summer in which he won the Norris Trophy for the first time and then faced reports about his uncertainty regarding a long-term commitment to Columbus beyond the final two years of his contract. His long-term plans remain publicly unknown, and he would have faced the Blue Jackets twice in six days had he not used his full no-movement clause to nix the Stars' trade.
Werenski should also be wearing the captain's 'C' that Boone Jenner left behind, but instead he remains the only Blue Jackets player who never removes the alternate's 'A.' As for his role in Robertson's breakaway, which forced goaltender Cam Talbot to make an impressive save, it wasn't entirely Werenski's fault.
The play began with Ivan Provorov's off-target backhand feed intended for Werenski just inside the Stars' zone. The pass caught Werenski off-guard, forcing him to extend his stick awkwardly. He lost his grip on the stick and then stepped on it while trying to chase the loose puck in the neutral zone. Falling flat on his belly near center ice, Werenski had a front-row view of Talbot's right-pad save that kept the game scoreless late in the second period. That would have stung had Robertson scored what could have been a winning goal.
Instead, Werenski got his own chance to score a big goal late in the third and capitalized, finally ending his goal woes and countering Mikko Rantanen's goal for the Stars. Taking a great feed from Kent Johnson on the left wing, he skated into the slot and used his backhand to flip the puck under goaltender Casey DeSmith's glove and over his pad on the far side.
Talbot, Valeri Nichushkin, and Johnson took it from there. Talbot made three saves in overtime to force a shootout, where he didn't allow a goal, while Nichushkin and Johnson scored on their attempts against DeSmith in the second and third rounds. Werenski received the donkey hat award from Mathieu Olivier for his clutch goal, bringing a surreal night to a fitting close.
After stretching the hat over his head, Werenski focused on the future—specifically the short-term future on November 6 in Buffalo. "Those last three games were fun, boys," Werenski said, as shown on the Blue Jackets' social media accounts. "This could've gone to a lot of guys tonight. Happy I got it, but let's find a win tomorrow."
Key Analysis
Werenski's performance was a microcosm of his season: despite contributing assists, the lack of goals drew scrutiny, especially after a summer of contract uncertainty and trade rumors. The goal against the team that tried to acquire him adds a layer of poetic justice. The Blue Jackets' comeback win, fueled by Talbot's goaltending and timely scoring, showcases their resilience. Werenski's continued excellence, even without the captaincy, remains vital to Columbus's success.
Originally reported by yahoo.