Werenski finishes a challenging year with an impressive push
Defenseman Zach Werenski also had a showing to remember with his fourpoint night for the Blue Jackets in Tuesday’s 6-3 season-endng win over the Carolina Hurricanes.
His two assists set a franchise record for assists in a single season by a defenseman (46) and his second goal, scored with 39 seconds left, tied Seth Jones for the team’s all-time scoring record for a defenseman in one season.
It capped a fevered push to the finish line for Werenski, who scored 10 of his 11 goals for the season in the last 36 games. He also added 22 assists in that span to finish with 10-22-32 to chase down former Blue Jackets defensemen James Wisniewski for the assists record and Jones in points.
Werenski, this year’s Masterton Trophy nominee for the Blue Jackets and the team’s “community MVP” for his local charitable efforts, made that furious push after returning from a high ankle sprain that caused him to miss 10 games. His season will continue next month for the U.S. at the world championships in Czechia.
“Just getting a win here in front of our fans in our last game here before summer, I think it’s huge for us,” Werenski said. “It was a really fun hockey game, a fun atmosphere and it’s good to end on a high note.”
Blue Jackets, 6, Hurricanes 3
Carolina 2 1 0 - 3
Columbus 3 1 2 - 6
First Period: 1, Columbus, Del Bel Belluz 1 (Pyyhtia, Werenski), 3:37. 1, Columbus, Werenski 10 (Sillinger, Marchenko), 5:24. 1, Carolina, Kotkaniemi 12 (Comtois, Noesen), 7:10. 1, Carolina, Teravainen 24 (Kotkaniemi, Burns), 18:16. 1, Columbus, Malatesta 2 (Olivier, Kuraly), 19:01. Penalties—columbus bench, served by Del Bel Belluz (Too many men), 1:25. Martinook, CAR (High-sticking), 13:07.
Second Period: 2, Carolina, Teravainen 25 (Burns, Noesen), 10:16. 1, Columbus, Gaudreau 12 (Danforth, Werenski), 12:18. Penalties—gudbranson, CLS (Cross-checking), 1:16. Chatfield, CAR (Tripping), 6:21. Jiricek, CLS (Holding), 9:45.
Third Period: 1, Columbus, Nylander 11 (Gudbranson, Provorov), 0:47. 2, Columbus, Werenski 11 (Olivier, Gudbranson), 19:21. Penalties—sillinger, CLS (Tripping), 2:56. Severson, CLS (Tripping), 16:19.
Shots on Goal: Carolina 16-10-15—41. Columbus 13-8-4—25.
Power-play opportunities: Carolina 1 of 5; Columbus 0 of 2.
Goalies: Carolina, Martin 7-9-2 (25 shots-19 saves). Columbus, Greaves 3-6-0 (41-38).
A: 17,289 (18,144).