Zach Werenski proved the obvious answer to the Blue Jackets’ scoring issues, helping Columbus break out of a five-game losing streak with two goals in a 4-3 victory that ended with Adam Fantilli’s game-winner 3:32 into overtime.
“That was huge,” Fantilli said. “But that’s just a step in the right direction. We got to continue this way and try to get as many points as we can here before Christmas.”
Werenski’s performance was the star defenseman’s first two-goal game of the 2025-26 season and first since March 4, 2025.
Werenski netted the first quickly, scoring in transition at the 8:21 mark of the first period. Yegor Chinakov got a quick pass off to Boone Jenner, who dragged the puck high into the corner of the Ducks’ zone. He found an open Werenski near the blue line after a line change, and Werenski sniped a wrist shot into the bottom-right corner.
Ducks fourth-line winger Ryan Strome netted the equalizer in the second period, and 20 seconds later, Werenski stepped up again. The Jackets added on when Boone Jenner netted a rebound on the right side of the Ducks’ goal, just 19 seconds after Werenski’s second goal.
“The whole time we were in control and comfortable,” Werenksi said.
There was a fourth goal scored within a 54-second window. Anaheim’s Mikael Granlund swerved into open space around Werenksi and Kirill Marchenko and made it 3-2.
Needing a good defensive performance to close out the third period, the Jackets matched the intensity of the first two periods and went flawless on penalty kill efforts.
“We didn’t give any glaring opportunities,” said head coach Dean Evason. “Obviously, that puck bounces over and we give up the breakaway, but after that, we stayed on the proper side. We didn’t give up those odd-man rushes. We competed.”
A late Ducks goal by Jackson LaCombe sent the game to overtime, but Fantilli’s game-winner goal allowed the Jackets to down the top team in the Pacific Division.
This story was updated.