That's four wins in five games for the Blue Jackets, who put the disappointment of Saturday's late loss in Winnipeg behind them for a 1-0 win tonight at Nationwide Arena.
With this mini-homestand presenting an opportunity to get back in the playoff race, getting two points against an inferior opponent was critical tonight. While it wasn't the most appeasing game to watch, it still counts for two points and the Blue Jackets bagged both of them. This is one of those where you take care of business and move on.
Here are tonight's three things.
U-G-L-Y
There are good 1-0 games, and then there are hockey games. This was one of the latter.
It was punitive to watch at times, with the Senators stacking three and four players across the blue line to create a quasi-force field and prevent the Blue Jackets from entering with control. There were plenty of attempted shots, plenty of blocked shots, and a lot of activity along the boards.
Sometimes you just have to fight your way through those games, and the Blue Jackets (for the most part) were able to do that. Were they sloppy at times? Oh god, yeah. But they made a play when they needed to, and they also defended pretty well.
Stay Hot, Z
Zach Werenski's heads-up play at the blue line made Oliver Bjorkstrand's game-winner happen. He collected the puck and made a quick decision to zip a shot toward goal, where Bjorkstrand re-directed it – legally, at shoulder height – to fool Craig Anderson and get Columbus on the board.
Werenski is on a career-best run right now with points in seven straight games.
Werenski had the primary assist on the #CBJ goal, giving him a seven-game point streak (3-6-9), a new career best. The seven-game run ties the longest point streak by a #CBJ defenseman, previously accomplished by Bryan Berard (2005-06) and Jaroslav Spacek (2002-03).
— CBJ Public Relations (@BlueJacketsPR) November 26, 2019
Hats Off, Korpi
Joonas Korpisalo has played well for much of this season, and his recent run of play has been a big reason why the Blue Jackets have won four straight games at Nationwide Arena – and now, they have three straight on deck against Metropolitan Division opponents with a chance to climb the ladder.
VICTORY CHEST BUMP.#CBJ pic.twitter.com/O1kwN87FAK
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) November 26, 2019
