{"id":15088,"date":"2025-02-23T16:35:16","date_gmt":"2025-02-23T16:35:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/breakingnews.azontree.com\/?p=15088"},"modified":"2025-02-23T16:35:16","modified_gmt":"2025-02-23T16:35:16","slug":"4-takeaways-from-columbus-blue-jackets-win-over-chicago-blackhawks-more-werenski-magic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/breakingnews.azontree.com\/?p=15088","title":{"rendered":"4 takeaways from Columbus Blue Jackets win over Chicago Blackhawks: More Werenski magic"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"The<\/p>\n

It wasn\u2019t always pretty, but the\u00a0Blue Jackets\u2019 5-1 win over the Chicago Blackhawks\u00a0on Saturday night at Nationwide Arena still\u00a0provided some beautiful memories.<\/p>\n

The Jackets resumed\u00a0what\u2019s already been a special hockey season in Columbus with a strong start and finish to a game they needed to win\u00a0to keep pace in a tightly packed playoff race\u00a0in the Eastern Conference. Here are four takeaways:<\/p>\n

\"Feb<\/p>\n
<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

Zach Werenski picks up where he left off for\u00a0Columbus Blue Jackets<\/h2>\n

The sting of the\u00a0United States\u2019 3-2 overtime loss to Canada\u00a0in the 4 Nations Face-Off championship game Thursday was impossible to miss when Zach Werenski met with reporters two days later. He was mostly stone-faced, gave eloquent thoughts through\u00a0monotone words and looked\u00a0a bit spent emotionally after spending two weeks\u00a0excelling in a tournament\u00a0he described as, \u201cthe most fun I\u2019ve had playing hockey.\u201d<\/p>\n

Never overstate the power of a good nap, though.<\/p>\n

After a marathon afternoon snooze, Werenski returned to a sold-out arena\u00a0and did what he\u2019s done for the Blue Jackets all season. Despite assessing his game as, \u201ca little sloppy,\u201d Werenski increased his team-high scoring total to 62 points with his 18th<\/sup>\u00a0goal plus two assists on goals\u00a0by Kent Johnson.<\/p>\n

\"Feb<\/p>\n
<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

Werenski’s first assist\u00a0extended his franchise-record home point streak to 22 games, moving him into a tie with Phil Housley (1991-92)\u00a0for the third-longest such streak by an NHL defenseman. His breakaway goal in the third broke the game open by giving Columbus a 4-1 lead. After collecting the puck, Werenski skated by his former defensive partner Seth Jones.<\/p>\n

He finished the play with a quick deke to a forehand wrist shot that cleanly beat goalie Petr Mrazek.<\/p>\n

\u201c(I spent) a lot of energy the\u00a0last couple weeks,\u201d Werenski said. \u201cI slept good (Friday) night, and I napped hard (Saturday). I napped forever it felt like, but we\u2019re in a good spot here (for a playoff chase), so once I got to the rink, I was ready to go, and I dialed in.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Feb<\/p>\n
<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

Columbus Blue Jackets forward Kent Johnson energized after NHL break<\/h2>\n

Johnson put only two shots on net, but both beat Mrazek for Johnson’s 18th<\/sup>\u00a0and 19th<\/sup> goals of the season. The first was scored 5-on-5 and the second capped a power play for a 2-0 lead early in the second period.<\/p>\n

The goals were also Johnson\u2019s 37th<\/sup>\u00a0and 38th<\/sup>\u00a0points in 43 games, moving him within two of tying his career-high of 40 points in 79 games two years ago as a rookie. Johnson skated\u00a0with Cole Sillinger and\u00a0Boone Jenner in the Blue Jackets captain\u2019s season debut, and they showed some\u00a0chemistry despite committing a couple\u00a0of turnovers that made coach Dean Evason wince.<\/p>\n

Johnson\u2019s goals set new single-season highs for him and put the high-skill right wing on pace for 30 goals in 68 games after missing 14 games early with a shoulder injury. Johnson\u2019s line was also matched up quite a bit against young Blackhawks star Connor Bedard, who\u2019s one of his closest friends.<\/p>\n

\u201cI love it,\u201d Johnson said. \u201cI was hoping for the matchup. I don\u2019t think it was every shift, but we definitely had it a lot. It was fun. I love playing against him. Obviously, it\u2019s a tough challenge, but it was good.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Feb<\/p>\n
<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

Elvis Merzlikins impresses during interesting night in Columbus Blue Jackets\u2019 net<\/h2>\n

Elvis Merzlikins is emerging as one of the Blue Jackets\u2019 most consistent players, which is exactly what they\u2019ve needed him to be while multiple key players missed time with injuries.<\/p>\n

Jenner (shoulder), Kirill Marchenko (jaw) and Dante Fabbro (concussion) all returned to action Saturday night and Merzlikins just continued his solid play with a 27-save performance for the goaltending win.<\/p>\n

It didn\u2019t happen without some classic Merzlikins moments, including a decision to skate far out of his net to play a loose puck followed by a scramble late in the third that left his backside cold and stinging. Playing the puck near the Blue Jackets\u2019 bench required a race to get to it ahead of a Blackhawks player, which led to Merzlikins making a leaping catch like a baseball player at the outfield wall.<\/p>\n

\n

Ignition, full power and LIFTOFF! \ud83d\ude80#CBJ<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/4oEHlMO7tZ<\/a><\/p>\n

— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) February 23, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n