8 Zach Werenski D

Werenski has yet to score a point through four games to begin the season.

It's not for lack of trying, as the 24-year-old blueliner has already fired 11 shots on net. The Jackets' offense as a whole has been sluggish, scoring a total of eight goals in those four games, and Werenski is far from alone in being a no-show so far. He'll look to shake off this early slump in the team's home opener Thursday against the Lightning.

Werenski (upper body) had a goal on two shots while adding three hits and two PIM in Sunday's 3-0 win over Toronto in Game 5.

Werenski left Game 4 with an undisclosed injury but was right back in the lineup Sunday after receiving apparently good news regarding an MRI. The 23-year-old opened the scoring just under seven minutes into the game when his point shot deflected off a Toronto defenseman and past goaltender Frederik Andersen. Werenski was able to log just under 23 minutes of ice time alongside Seth Jones on Columbus' top defensive pairing.

Werenski (upper body) will play in Sunday's Game 5 against the Maple Leafs, Aaron Portzline of The Athletic reports.

Werenski underwent an MRI on Saturday after exiting Friday's Game 4 in the third period with an upper-body injury, but the results were clearly encouraging. The 23-year-old blueliner, who's picked up one assist and fired 14 shots on goal through the first four games of the series, will skate on Columbus' top pairing and first power-play unit Sunday.

Werenski is scheduled to undergo an MRI on Saturday to determine the extent of the upper-body injury he sustained during Saturday's Game 4 loss to Toronto, Darren Dreger of TSN reports.

Werenski has averaged a whopping 26:42 of ice time per contest through the first four games of the series, so losing him for a must-win Game 5 would be a massive blow for the Blue Jackets. Another update on the 23-year-old blueliner's status should be released prior to puck drop Sunday night.

Werenski (upper body) did not join the Blue Jackets on the bench during overtime in Game 4 versus the Maple Leafs, Alison Lukan of The Athletic reports.

Werenski's last shift ended with 9:08 remaining in the third period, and he was seen getting attention from the team's training staff on the bench. It's unclear how Werenski got hurt, but the trainers appeared to be checking out his shoulder or back. Missing the 23-year-old blueliner for any length of time would be a huge blow to the Blue Jackets' defense.

Werenski notched an assist, five shots on goal and a plus-2 rating in Thursday's 4-3 overtime win over the Maple Leafs in Game 3.

Werenski set up the first of Pierre-Luc Dubois' three tallies in the contest. It was a big improvement from Tuesday's 3-0 loss in Game 2, where Werenski went minus-3. The 23-year-old blueliner had a career-high 20 goals in 63 contests during the regular season -- when he's playing well, he can be a big boost to the Blue Jackets' offense.

Werenski put up 41 points in 63 games prior to the league suspending play in mid-March.

The blueliner's return to the 40-plus-point plateau shouldn't come as much of a surprise, as Werenski has now achieved that feat in three of his four NHL campaigns. What really stands out are his 20 goals, which are tops among all NHL defensemen and a notable uptick from his previous career-best 16 (in 14 additional games) back in 2017-18. The 22-year-old has also received a career high in even-strength and power-play ice time (23:59 and 2:44), which furthers his status as one of the game's top back-end fantasy assets -- not to mention the fact that he's now the clear-cut preferred option in Columbus ahead of Seth Jones.

Werenski pocketed an assist and fired a team-high eight shots on goal in Saturday's 4-1 loss to the Oilers.

Werenski set up Gustav Nyquist on a breakaway for the Blue Jackets' only goal of the game. The 22-year-old defenseman has posted two goals and three assists in his last six outings. Werenski is up to 20 goals, 41 points, 187 shots and a plus-9 rating through 62 appearances this season.

Werenski scored a goal on four shots and had an assist in Sunday's 5-3 win over the Canucks.

Werenski is up to 40 points and needs just eight more to surpass his previous career high, set in his rookie season. The 23-year-old also moved to within two points of tying his power-play point total from a year ago (15). Columbus will now hit the road for three games out west beginning with the Flames on Wednesday.

Werenski scored a goal on five shots in Tuesday's 5-4 loss to Minnesota. He also logged a team-leading 26:41 of ice time.

Werenski tallied his first goal in the last five games, scoring with 3:06 remaining in regulation to pull the Blue Jackets to within 5-4. The goal was Werenski's 19th of the season, extending his career high, and gave him 38 points in 58 games. He can still challenge the career-high 47 points he had as a rookie in 2016-17.

Werenski posted an assist, four shots on goal and two blocked shots in Monday's 4-3 overtime win over the Senators.

Werenski's shot produced a rebound in overtime, leading to the winning tally from Emil Bemstrom. In February, Werenski has three goals and four helpers in 13 games. He's averaged nearly 25 minutes per outing, which helps to fill the void left by Seth Jones (ankle). Werenski has 37 points, 166 shots, 53 blocks and a plus-10 rating in 57 contests this season.

Werenski scored a goal on a team-leading seven shots in Sunday's 4-3 shootout loss to New Jersey.

Werenski was a workhorse for Columbus, as per usual, logging a team-high 26:54 of playing time and leading all players in shots on goal. When he lit the lamp just over six minutes into the game, it was Werenski's 18th goal of the season, extending his franchise record for defensemen. He's shooting a career-best 12.0 percent and boasts 35 points in 53 games.

Werenski scored the game-winning goal in Friday's 2-0 victory over the Red Wings.

His second-period tally was all the offense Elvis Merzlikins would need on the night. Werenski's goal gives him 17 on the season, setting a new franchise record for defensemen -- a record he jointly held with Seth Jones when they both lit the lamp 16 times in 2017-18 -- and his 33 points in 48 games has the 23-year-old on pace for the first 50-point campaign of his career.

Werenski scored his 16th goal of the season in overtime Tuesday to give the Blue Jackets a 1-0 win over the Panthers.

The tally tied Werenski's previous career high, while also ending a dazzling goaltending duel between former Columbus starter Sergei Bobrovsky and new rookie starter Elvis Merzlikins. Werenski has been rolling over the last month, scoring five goals and nine points in his last 13 games, and as long as the 23-year-old stays healthy he seems headed towards a big finish to the campaign.

Werenski posted an assist, four shots on goal and a plus-2 rating in Sunday's 4-3 win over the Canadiens.

The 22-year-old has assists in three of his last five games. For the season, Werenski is at 15 goals, 16 helpers, 125 shots and a plus-10 rating in 46 contests. The defenseman is on pace to produce 45 points, with an outside chance at 50 if he goes on a scoring binge.

Werenski notched a power-play assist, two shots on goal and a plus-2 rating in Wednesday's 4-3 win over the Jets.

Werenski had the secondary helper on Gustav Nyquist's second-period goal. The 22-year-old blueliner has been limited to two assists in seven games since his five-game, seven-goal binge came to an end. For the season, he's at 30 points (11 on the power play), 119 shots on goal and a plus-8 rating in 44 contests.

Werenski scored a pair of goals in Tuesday's 4-3 win over the Ducks.

The blueliner pumped six shots on goal and blocked two shots. Werenski has seven goals and a helper in his last five games. With 15 tallies this season, he passed Dougie Hamilton and Roman Josi for the goal-scoring lead among blueliners. Werenski's stat line features 28 points, 99 shots and 10 power-play points through 37 outings.

Werenski notched an assist in Monday's 4-2 win over the Kings.

The defenseman has been resurgent with seven goals and three assists over his last nine games. Werenski has 26 points and 93 shots in 36 contests this season, but a career-high 14 percent success rate on his shots seems to be fueling the surge. That lofty mark is bound to come down eventually, but it shouldn't hinder the 22-year-old's ability to reach the 40-point mark for the third time in four NHL seasons.

Werenski scored two goals on five shots while adding two hits and a plus-2 rating in Saturday's 3-2 loss to the Sharks.

Both goals were scored in similar fashion, as Werenski swooped down from the point to corral a loose puck and fire it behind Aaron Dell, but the Jackets couldn't muster any other offense. The 22-year-old has been on fire since returning to action from an upper-body injury in mid-December, scoring seven goals and nine points in the last eight games.

Werenski scored three goals on six shots and was plus-3 in a 4-1 win over Florida on Tuesday.

Werenski was a one-man wrecking crew for the Blue Jackets, opening the scoring in the first period and tallying twice in the final frame. It was his first NHL hat trick and all three goals came at even strength. The 22-year-old is on his way to the most productive season of his young career, collecting 11 goals and 23 points in 33 games, despite missing a two-week stretch in December due to a shoulder injury.