During his Wednesday appearance on 97.1 FM's Rothman & Ice, Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski spoke about the team's 0-2-2 stretch, his partnership with Damon Severson, and more.
Hockey & Hounds w/ @ZachWerenski @BlueJacketsNHL #CBJ 11-1-23 https://t.co/yrRpwo1Jl4
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"I definitely think we deserved better in a few of those games," Werenski said. "In Montreal, we're up, give up two power-play goals, have a chance in overtime, then they end up beating us. I think that's a game we probably deserved a second point. [Against] Anaheim (a 3-2 overtime loss), same thing. [They got] kind of a lucky bounce off my stick to tie the game and we had some chances in overtime and they get a breakaway and score. I think we probably deserved a second point in that game, as well."
Unfortunately, Werenski said, that's not how hockey works. Sometimes teams lose games they should win and sometimes they win games they should lose.
"I think the Dallas game [was] probably the worst game of our losing streak, myself included," Werenski said. "I didn't play [well] that night [and] our team was a little slow. But I definitely think we deserved better in some games. It's unfortunate because those points are huge and we know that. But it's more so just trusting the process and if we play the way we did against Montreal and Anaheim, not against Dallas so much, but if we play the way we did in those two games more times than not we're gonna find ways to get two points."
Werenski and Severson have been the team's top defensive pairing this season, and before the Dallas game, were one of the best pairings in the league, according to moneypuck.com's expected goals percentage.
"It's been really good," Werenski said. "Outside of that Dallas game, like I said, I don't think I played well at all in that game. But the games before that, leading up to that, I thought we were building our chemistry. Our pairing was getting better, we were making plays, [and] we weren't really giving much up defensively. And obviously, he's a guy that's signed here long term, I'm here for [the] long term as well, so if we can keep building our pair and our chemistry, and hopefully we can be partners for a long time. I think it's definitely been a positive so far and hopefully, we keep it going moving forward."
After Monday's loss to the Stars in Dallas, Blue Jackets head coach Pascal Vincent said that a few guys on the team didn't work hard enough. Werenski said he agreed with Vincent.
"I think he was pretty spot on with the Dallas game," Werenski said. "You play 82 games in a season, they're not all going to be perfect. They're not all gonna be good. Sometimes you're going to have off nights. I think what he was trying to get across and I think as leaders, what we have to kind of help the young guys with is just the work ethic, right? There's certain things you have to do consistently in this league and that's to work. And if you work and you lose a game, it is what it is. Sometimes there's just better teams out there that beat you that night or the puck doesn't go in for you, or whatever it is. But at least you're working and you're putting in that work to give yourself a chance to win. In Dallas, I felt like we kind of got away from that a little bit."
"And we have a young team, too," Werenski continued. "And with the travel and the late nights and the time change, there's no excuse, but it's one of those things that until you go through it, until you kind of play in those situations, guys aren't feeling great, whatever it is. It takes time to learn."
The Blue Jackets returned to Columbus and had what Werenski said were two good days of practice.
"We watched a lot of video on things [Vincent] was talking about," Werenski said. "The work ethic, the tracking, the box outs net front, [and] some of the one-on-one battles. We did that today and we were pretty dialed in, just ready to go for tomorrow, though."
Werenski didn't express any concern when asked about Johnny Gaudreau's goalless start to the season.
"He's so talented," Werenski said of Gaudreau. "He's done this for so long. It's one of those things where you kind of just gotta let him be and he knows how to score, he knows how to get on the score sheet, he knows what it takes to win. I feel like it's one of those where once he gets one, once one puck crosses the goal line, he's been close, I feel like they're all just gonna start going in for him. So obviously, it's tough when he's not scoring because he's such a big part of our team. But that happens, guys go through it. It's a tough league and I don't think anyone's really worried about Johnny. He's gonna be fine."
Werenski and the Blue Jackets will try to win their first game since October 21st when they face the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday.
