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More: Greaves’ 28 saves lead Columbus Blue Jackets to 1-0 win<\/a><\/p>\n Most importantly, the Jackets rebounded from a lackluster 4-1 loss to the Ottawa Senators<\/a> on Jan. 20 to earn a regulation win in veteran forward Charlie Coyle\u2019s 1,000th NHL game<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cThat was a heck of a hockey game,\u201d Blue Jackets coach Rick Bowness<\/a> said. \u201cThe fans got their money\u2019s worth, for sure. That\u2019s how we want to play, and that\u2019s fun for me to be behind the bench watching that. Guys were blocking shots, and it was just a great effort. But you know what? Put it behind us and do it again [Jan. 24 against the Tampa Bay Lightning<\/a>].\u201d<\/p>\n Perhaps in that one, a way to improve might be earning more possession in the Lightning\u2019s zone?<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n In this one, according to Natural Stat Trick<\/a>, Dallas set up shop in the Columbus zone and built large even-strength advantages in scoring chances (29-11) and high-danger chances (10-3). The Stars also finished with wide margins favoring them in expected goals (2.36-0.93) at even strength and expected goals in all situations (3.25-1.21).<\/p>\n In other words, Greaves and a few timely defensive plays around his net allowed the Blue Jackets to steal a win they desperately needed. That\u2019s not a great recipe long-term, but it worked out for a needed win.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a big two points, but these milestones we all get to celebrate are all fun,” Coyle said. “It\u2019s nice, but when you win, it makes it that much better, and you can enjoy it a little more. That\u2019s what I\u2019m happy about and we\u2019re all happy about that.\u201d<\/p>\n Here are more takeaways from the Blue Jackets\u2019 shutout:<\/p>\n Teammates congratulate Blue Jackets center Charlie Coyle after a 1-0 win against the Stars that marked Coyle’s 1,000th career NHL game.<\/p>\n Columbus Blue Jackets<\/a> make Charlie Coyle\u2019s 1,000th game memorable<\/p>\n Coyle refused to reveal everything that was done to help him celebrate, including presumably a prank or two, but public displays showed how just how quickly he\u2019s endeared himself with the team since he and forward Miles Wood were acquired in a trade last summer.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n The Blue Jackets proudly wore blue hats with the No. 1,000 embroidered on the front, wore blue T-shirts with a \u20181,000 games\u2019 logo printed over a photo of Coyle and skated through pregame warmup wearing No. 3 jerseys with his nameplate on the backs, along with \u20181K\u2019 patches on the sleeves.<\/p>\n His father, Chuck, announced the starting lineup before the Blue Jackets went out to play, finishing with his son\u2019s name before giving him a hug. That was recorded and played on the video board for fans during a stoppage in play. Coyle\u2019s teammates also made sure he took a bow for fans.<\/p>\n \u201cIt just speaks to the leadership and the type of guys that we have in here,\u201d he said. \u201cNo one cares about the credit. It\u2019s all about whoever\u2019s special night it is, right? It\u2019s really fun to be part of a group like that. \u2026 It goes to show who we have in here, and who they are as teammates, just pushing that little stuff that you may not want to do, but it means a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n Coyle\u2019s accomplishment will be honored again prior to the Blue Jackets\u2019 upcoming game Jan. 26 against the Los Angeles Kings, when he\u2019ll be honored with a pregame ceremony and presented with a silver stick.<\/p>\n Blue Jackets center Charlie Coyle skates around the ice to absorb the applause of fans saluting his 1,000th career game \u2013 a 1-0 win over the Stars.<\/p>\n Offside spoils perfect ending to Charlie Coyle\u2019s 1,000th game<\/p>\n Coyle scooped the puck and scored into an empty net with 11.3 seconds left. It would\u2019ve been a fitting way for the Jackets to seal victory with the guy celebrating his 1,000th game clinching it, but it didn\u2019t stand.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n The play was called offside on the ice, so Coyle and the Blue Jackets had to kill off the final 11 seconds before celebrating the win.<\/p>\n \u201cI thought something could\u2019ve happened,\u201d Coyle said. \u201cI didn\u2019t know if it was a high stick or if they called a penalty. It was kind of loud at that point. [Adam] Fantilli came to give me a hug, so I just hugged him, and it was no goal. But 11 seconds left, we had the lead, I was pretty happy to just close it out.\u201d<\/p>\n Blue Jackets center Adam Fantilli (19) won 16 of his 24 faceoffs against the Stars.<\/p>\n Fantilli has now gone 17 straight games without a goal, which probably drives him nuts, but he\u2019s playing a strong two-way style as the Blue Jackets\u2019 top center.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n He\u2019s using his speed to hunt pucks in all three zones. He\u2019s setting up scoring chances for his linemates. And, against the Stars, he won 16 of 24 faceoffs for an impressive 67% success rate. Fantilli\u2019s win percentage entering the game was 50%, which is a significant improvement from sub-50% rates during his first two NHL seasons.<\/p>\n Bowness said he put Fantilli out for penalty-kill shifts primarily because of his success on draws, winning 10 of the 15 (67%) held in the defensive zone. He also went 5 of 6 (87%) in the offensive zone and finished with dominant percentages against four of the five Stars who opposed him.<\/p>\n That’s the kind of stuff the NHL’s best No. 1 centers do regularly, and Fantilli is skating along that path.<\/p>\n Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski (second from right) has 19 goals this season.<\/p>\n Columbus Blue Jackets star Zach Werenski again pushing for Norris Trophy<\/p>\n After finishing runner-up to Colorado Avalanche star Cale Makar for the 2025 Norris Trophy as the NHL\u2019s top defenseman, Columbus’ Zach Werenski is making an even bigger push this season.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n His goal against the Stars was his 19th goal of the season, which put him on top of all NHL defensemen in goals. Werenski is also giving Makar a push for the title of top NHL defensive scoring leader. He\u2019s two points behind in that race with three fewer games played due to injury.<\/p>\n Werenski is shooting a career-high 11.4% on 167 shots. He\u2019s also second in the NHL in ice time, averaging 26:39 per game, and he leads NHL defensemen in scoring average at 1.16 points per game. Barring a major slump or another injury, the Jackets\u2019 top player is putting together another Norris-worthy season.<\/p>\n Blue Jackets reporter Brian Hedger<\/a> can be reached at bhedger@dispatch.com<\/a> and @BrianHedger.bsky.social<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Teammates](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/487d8bc4afbad8a9d0ba394a01955741.jpeg\"\/)
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