COLUMBUS, Ohio — In a decisive 5-1 triumph over the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday, the Columbus Blue Jackets snapped a four-game losing streak. Zach Werenski was instrumental in the win, contributing a goal and two assists, while Kent Johnson netted two goals of his own. Supporting efforts came from Denton Mateychuk and Adam Fantilli, with Dmitri Voronkov assisting twice and goaltender Elvis Merzlikins stopping 27 shots as the team returned to play following a hiatus for the 4 Nations Face-Off.
Craig Smith scored the only goal for the Blackhawks, with Petr Mrazek making 16 saves in net.
Johnson kicked off the scoring spree for the Blue Jackets, pushing the lead to 2-0 just 1:12 into the second period. Smith was able to get the Blackhawks on the board with a power-play goal, but Mateychuk quickly countered with a score at 12:28, further extending Columbus’ lead to 3-1.
**Key Observations**
The Blackhawks were hoping for a fresh start post-break but fell short, managing only one victory in their last six outings (1-3-2) and holding a record of 2-4-4 over their past ten games. On the other hand, the Blue Jackets made strides towards a potential playoff run. Captain Boone Jenner made his season debut following shoulder surgery on October 9, contributing an assist. Additionally, forwards Kirill Marchenko (who recently overcame a fractured jaw) and Dante Fabbro (returning from a concussion) were back in action after being sidelined for three games.
**Turning Point**
Denton Mateychuk provided a crucial spark for the Blue Jackets when he skated across the blue line without being challenged, unleashing a wrist shot from 42 feet out to score his second goal and push the lead to 4-1.
**Noteworthy Achievements**
With his performance, Zach Werenski extended his home point streak to an impressive 22 games, matching Phil Housley’s record set in the 1991-92 season for the third-longest streak by a defenseman in NHL history. Bobby Orr holds the all-time record with 25 games during the 1974-75 season.
**Looking Ahead**
The next challenge for the Blackhawks will be hosting the Toronto Maple Leafs on Sunday, while the Blue Jackets will be gearing up to face the Dallas Stars at home on Tuesday.
