In the eyes of coach Dean Evason, Zach Werenski “willed” the Columbus Blue Jackets to a victory earlier this week.
The 28-year-old scored twice and set up the overtime winner as the Blue Jackets edged the Anaheim Ducks 4-3 on Tuesday night — Columbus’ lone win in the past seven outings (1-5-1).
The Blue Jackets will be in Anaheim, Calif., on Saturday night as part of a two-game road trip, looking for a sweep of the season series.
“He willed that team (on Tuesday),” Evason said. “All I’ve seen is a guy that wants to win. He doesn’t give two cents about his production, his points, his ice time. He doesn’t say anything except his willingness to compete and to lead.”
Werenski added a pair of goals in Thursday’s 5-2 loss to the Minnesota Wild. Through 34 games this season, he paces the Blue Jackets in goals (13), assists (25), and points (38).
“I just play my game, to be honest,” Werenski said. “I’m at a point where I’m a veteran guy, and I think it’s important to lead by example, and that’s doing what you’re capable of. For me, I feel like that’s driving the offense and bringing our team into it that way, and that’s all I try to do.”
Jet Greaves, Saturday’s likely starter, made 24 saves in Tuesday’s game and is 8-9-5 with a 2.77 goals-against average and a .904 save percentage in 22 games this season.
On Friday night, the Blue Jackets acquired forward Mason Marchment from the Seattle Kraken for a pair of draft picks. Marchment has four goals and nine assists in 29 games this season.
Anaheim will look for a response when they host Columbus in the second game of a back-to-back set following an 8-3 thumping at the hands of the Dallas Stars on Friday night.
Ryan Poehling, Beckett Sennecke, and Mikael Granlund scored for the Ducks, who have dropped four of their past five games (1-3-1). Lukas Dostal allowed four goals on seven shots before being replaced by Petr Mrazek, who made 14 saves.
“That was ugly, it was ugly. I’ll give (Dallas) credit, they can make plays, and they certainly had their way with us all night long,” said Ducks coach Joel Quenneville. “Started off, gave up our first short-handed goal of the year — that was kind of a funny one, and then it just went on from there.
“It was a game where we were taken out of it. We’ve got a game (Saturday) night and basically have something to prove, knowing that this one was unacceptable.”
Granlund had a goal and an assist, Ryan Strome opened the scoring, and Jackson LaCombe scored the game-tying goal to force overtime in Tuesday’s loss to the Blue Jackets. Ville Husso made 24 saves in the defeat.
“They’re a dangerous team,” Quenneville said. “We were fortunate to tie it late down 3-1, but at the same time, there were some positive stretches in the game for us, and I think we’ve got to make sure. … I’m just looking for the response, not worried about our opponent.”
Dostal, expected to start Saturday, is 12-7-1 with a 2.91 GAA and a .899 save percentage in 20 games this season.
–Field Level Media
