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More: Columbus Blue Jackets top Detroit Red Wings in shootout. Replay<\/a><\/p>\n Picking up the puck at center ice, Werenski’s right skate was tightly laced and sturdy while the left was held together by clear plastic tape applied by the Jackets’ equipment staff on the bench after a fall late in overtime cut his laces.<\/p>\n \u201cMy laces were all messed up, and I couldn\u2019t really skate,\u201d Werenski<\/a> said, smiling. \u201cSo, when they called me, I was like, \u2018Are you sure? I\u2019m kind of on one leg here.\u2019 My foot was in the skate, but pretty wobbly.\u201d<\/p>\n Apr 7, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets center Charlie Coyle (3) receives congratulations from teammates after he score on Detroit Red Wings goaltender John Gibson (36) during shoot out to win the game against the Detroit Red Wings at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images<\/p>\n For what it\u2019s worth, it didn\u2019t look like it.<\/p>\n Werenski took the puck, skated to his right, cut left into the slot and fired a hard wrist shot that beat Red Wings goalie John Gibson inside the left post.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n It was a rocket, fired by a guy who boosted his Norris Trophy candidacy by helping the Blue Jackets (39-27-12) stay two points behind the Ottawa Senators and Philadelphia Flyers for playoff spots in the Metropolitan Division and Eastern Conference.<\/p>\n Along with his one skate greatness in the shootout, Werenski scored a big tying goal to cap a power play in the second period, assisted on Adam Fantilli\u2019s goal with 16.2 seconds left in regulation to force overtime and logged a career-high 33:26 on 32 shifts.<\/p>\n He spent the last 35 seconds of that ice time desperately defending in 3-on-3 overtime with a loosened left skate after the laces were cut.<\/p>\n \u201cHe was trying to yell at me in overtime, and I had no clue what he was saying,\u201d Fantilli said. \u201cThen, after it was over, he calls me over and shows me his skate, and it was just all clear taped up, and I was just laughing. I had no clue what he was trying to say mid-game because I was so gassed, but that\u2019s pretty funny.\u201d<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Werenski found it calming.<\/p>\n Apr 7, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Red Wings center Dylan Larkin (71) skates with the puck in overtime defended by Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski (8) at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images<\/p>\n He\u2019d only been chosen for three previous shootout attempts in the NHL and hadn\u2019t scored on any of them. This time, his wonky skate forced him to go basic.<\/p>\n \u201cIt probably made me feel more calm, to be honest, because I was like, \u2018You know what? Nothing to lose, really \u2026 just go down there and fire it,\u2019\u201d Werenski said. \u201cI was kind of thinking (about) what I was going to do when I went out there, and then I was like, \u2018What am I thinking? Just shoot it. I can\u2019t really do anything else.\u2019 So, I just stuck with it and I\u2019m glad it found its way in.\u201d<\/p>\n Doing it near his hometown of Grosse Pointe, Michigan, a Detroit suburb, was even better. After pumping his fist and celebrating the win, Werenski went to see his family.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n \u201cI saw my parents after the game in the stands (and) I saw my brother up there,\u201d Werenski said. \u201cThose are the moments that you play the game for, and I think that\u2019s what makes it better. It would\u2019ve been fun in any building at this time of year, given what\u2019s on the line, but I think just seeing them after the game, it definitely ranks pretty high up there for moments in a regular season game, for sure.\u201d<\/p>\n Blue Jackets reporter Brian Hedger<\/a> can be reached at bhedger@dispatch.com<\/a> and @BrianHedger.bsky.social<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Apr](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/18e97947ad5fcc506034b58cc462091b.jpeg\"\/)
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