Zach Werenski led the Blue Jackets with two goals on 15 shots and eight shots on goal, but defensive mistakes around the net cost Columbus in a 5-2 loss on Dec. 18 against the Minnesota Wild.

Fresh off their blockbuster acquisition of star defenseman Quinn Hughes via trade and riding a five-game winning streak, the Wild overwhelmed the Blue Jackets in the third period at Nationwide Arena.

Though not credited for an assist, Hughes skated around the Jackets’ defense to get the puck in deep for the Wild’s top line. Joel Eriksson Ek scored right around the blue area with 9:50 remaining to make it 3-2 Minnesota.

“We can’t allow people just to skate freely to the net,” said Evason. “We have to get a little harder and tougher and greasier in those areas, and firmer.”

That would prove the game-winner, because with under two minutes to go, the Wild sent most of the Blue Jackets’ crowd home early with two goals on Columbus’ empty net.

“We’re playing well enough to win, but it’s getting old and we keep losing,” said Werenski. “I mean, enough is enough. It’s unacceptable… at the end of the day, this is getting outrageous. I mean, we’re a good hockey team and we’re just losing games. So maybe we’re not a good hockey team; I don’t know.”

The loss marked the first time in Werenski’s 10-year NHL career that he recorded multiple goals in back-to-back games. His first goal came at the end of a quiet first period, when the Jackets took advantage of a giveaway low in the Wild’s offensive zone. With the third line on the ice, Miles Wood swiped the puck away from Wild defenseman Brock Faber and found Cole Sillinger skating down the center of the ice with Werenksi behind him.

Charlie Coyle received the puck and sent a perfect lateral pass to Werenski on the right side for a rocketing shot and score.

Maintaining a better pace and offensive pressure than the Wild in the second period, the Jackets’ momentum was halted on the penalty kill when Kiril Kaprizov found Ryan Hartman next to goalie Jet Greaves for an easy push-in goal to tie the game. Greaves finished with 23 saves.

Three minutes later, the Wild broke down the top of the Blue Jackets’ offensive zone with a textbook triangle of passes from the second line, resulting in a Vladimir Tarasenko goal.

Werenski countered by stealing the puck from Tyler Pitlick near the center line and turned on the afterburners to even the score before the end of the second period.

The Blue Jackets now own a -23 goal differential in the third period.

“We wish we had a little more intensity in that area, but our try is there,” said Evason. “We’re not questioning that.”

Because of their most recent collapse, the Jackets are back in the loss column, unable to string together wins after breaking their five-game losing streak Dec. 16.