Werenski, 22, led the Blue Jackets to a 2-1-0 mark, leading the league in goals with 5-0-5, 13 shots on goal and a +5 plus/minus rating, while averaging 25:03 TOI in three outings last week. He became the third defenseman in club history to collect a hat trick (Deron Quint-Mar. 9, 2001 and Bryan Berard-Jan. 8, 2006) when he scored three times, fired off six shots and was +3 on 22:00 TOI in a 4-1 win over Florida on December 31. After logging 27:00 in a 2-1 overtime win at Boston on January 2, he scored both Jackets' goals on five shots and was +2 on 26:10 TOI in a 3-2 loss vs. San Jose on January 4.
The Grosse Pointe, Michigan native has racked up 10-9-19 and a +11 plus/minus rating in 19 appearances since November 9, including 7-2-9 in his past eight games since December 19. He leads league blueliners in shooting percentage (14.1) and ranks second-T in goals with 13-12-25 as well as eight penalty minutes and a +3 plus/minus rating in 35 games in 2019-20. Columbus' first round pick, eighth overall, at the 2015 NHL Draft, Werenski is the third U.S.-born defenseman in NHL history to record double digit goals in each of his first four or more campaigns to begin his NHL career. He has notched 51-102-153, 56 penalty minutes and a +16 plus/minus rating in 272 career contests.
The Blue Jackets return to action tonight when they visit the Los Angeles Kings. Game time from STAPLES Center is 10:30 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcast live on FOX Sports Ohio and the FOX Sports Go app. Coverage begins at 10 p.m. with the "Blue Jackets Live" pre-game show. The game will also be broadcast on the Eldorado Gaming Scioto Downs Blue Jackets Radio Network, including Sports Radio 97.1 The Fan.
