Story by
Werenski extends streak in late loss before Columbus Blue Jackets' break: 4 takeaways
- Story by
- Werenski extends streak in late loss before Columbus Blue Jackets' break: 4 takeaways
Into the break they go.
The Blue Jackets did all they could to head into the NHL's lengthy pause for the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament with what could've been an uplifting win Saturday night at Nationwide Arena, but they took a gut punch instead with a 4-3 loss to the New York Rangers on a late goal by Will Cuylle .
Advertisement
More: New York Rangers' Cuylle sends Columbus Blue Jackets into NHL break with stinging loss
Cuylle also assisted on the Rangers ' tying goal early in the third before scoring with 1:39 left to break a 3-3 tie on a tally that dealt the Blue Jackets (26-22-8) a stinging loss before most head off to sun-soaked tropical locations for a desperately needed pause in games.
Here are four takeaways:
Zach Werenski extends record streak before leaving for 4 Nations Face-Off
Spotting Kent Johnson wide open out of the corner of his eye, Zach Werenski zipped a perfect cross-ice feed late in the first period that led to a tying goal that pushed his own franchise-record home points streak to 21 straight games with a primary assist.
Advertisement
Werenski also tied Boston Bruins legend Bobby Orr's 21-game home points streak in 1970-71 for the fourth-longest home point streak by a defenseman in NHL history, moved within four games of Orr's record 25-game streak in 1974-75 and tied Edmonton Oilers star Connor McDavid for the fourth-longest home points streak among active players regardless of position.
Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski passes the puck against the Rangers on Saturday.
Werenski is the third American-born player in NHL history to string together a home points streak of 20-plus games, following Brett Hull's 26-game streak in 1989-90 and Phil Housley's 21-game streak in 1991-92. Housley, a Rangers assistant coach, is third on the all-time list of home point streaks by NHL defensemen.
Next up for Werenski is joining his U.S. teammates for the start of the 4 Nations tournament. They'll practice Monday.
Advertisement
"I'm excited for it," Werenski said. "A few days here (to rest) might be nice on the body, but it's one of those things where once you get there, you're going to be next to the guys and just feel the buzz of it and be around it. It'll definitely be a different feel and I'm excited for it."
Blue Jackets captain Boone Jenner (38) is expected to make his season debut Saturday.
Columbus Blue Jackets excited to rest, relax and return strong from break
It's been five years since the Blue Jackets reached this stage of a season sitting just outside of a playoff spot. They're one point behind the Detroit Red Wings for the Eastern Conference's second wild card, two points back of the Ottawa Senators for the first wild card and tied with the Bruins at 60 points each.
Advertisement
The Rangers moved to 58 points, while four teams behind them are jumbled within three points of New York and five points back of Columbus.
When the Jackets next play Feb. 22 against the Chicago Blackhawks , they'll be gearing up for a final push while chasing a playoff spot. Boone Jenner and Dante Fabbro could each return from injuries coming out of the break, while Yegor Chinakhov , Erik Gudbranson and Sean Monahan are expected to follow sometime in March.
The Blue Jackets will also host the 2025 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series matchup on March 1 against the Red Wings at Ohio Stadium. They'll make franchise history by playing outdoors for the first time in their lone scheduled national television appearance of the season.
"It's exactly the position we wanted to get ourselves into," center Adam Fantilli said. "We had confidence we could get here and it's going to be exciting coming back for the second half."
New York Rangers defenseman K'Andre Miller (79) hits Columbus Blue Jackets center Adam Fantilli (19) in the second period at Nationwide Arena on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025 in Columbus, Ohio.
Columbus Blue Jackets center Adam Fantilli logs career-high ice time against New York Rangers
Blue Jackets coach Dean Evason went with 11 forwards and seven defensemen for a second straight game, which requires one or two forwards to skate increased ice time by double-shifting with lines other than their own.
Advertisement
Fantilli got the bulk of those shifts in each game, including 28 shifts against New York to set his NHL career-high with 26:59 in a game that ended in regulation time. According to Hockey-Reference, that's the third-highest ice time for a Blue Jackets forward in franchise history for a non-overtime/shootout game.
Ray Whitney is the only Blue Jackets forward who's logged more in a regulation game, setting the high mark with 27:19 on Oct. 14, 2002 in a 4-2 loss to the former Phoenix Coyotes and the second-highest mark Dec. 31, 2002 with 27:16 in a 5-2 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins . Fantilli also skated 24:27 Thursday in the Blue Jackets' 3-2 overtime loss to Utah, gaining loads of trust from the coaching staff at just 20-years old.
"When you're midgame and bouncing around, you just go out there and play hockey," Fantilli said. "The only thing I'm maybe thinking about is keeping my shift shorter, so that I can go back out the next time. Other than that, I'm just playing hockey."
Columbus Blue Jackets coach Dean Evason shortens bench after New York Rangers ' first goal
It's been a tough season for Jordan Harris , who was acquired last summer in the Blue Jackets' trade that sent Patrik Laine to the Montreal Canadiens . Harris has been a depth defenseman all season, logging his 29thgame in the loss to the Rangers, and he wound up getting stapled to the bench for all but three shifts.
Advertisement
Harris, who played only 2:02, was caught drifting up ice in the offensive zone on the Rangers' first goal and couldn't get back in time to cut off New York's Arthur Kaliyev from skating around him and the net to score with a wraparound on the far side. Harris didn't take another shift in the first period, skating just 28 seconds, and played just two more shifts in the second.
He didn't play in the third, which meant the Blue Jackets used only 17 of their 18 skaters in the final frame despite dressing seven defensemen and 11 forwards. New York finished with a 17-4 edge in shots during the third, helping them overcome a 2-1 deficit.
Get more on the Columbus Blue Jackets with our Cannon Fodder podcast
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Werenski streak at 21 after Columbus Blue Jackets' loss: 4 takeaways
