Zach Werenski witnessed the Columbus Blue Jackets endure a tough 6-3 road loss against the Pittsburgh Penguins, a game in which Sidney Crosby scored one of the six goals. The defeat further distanced the Blue Jackets from the Wild Card race.
Following the game, Werenski admitted that he and his teammates played well, but things didn’t go as they had hoped. “We work hard, we play the right way and we haven’t got rewarded,” the veteran said, expressing his frustration with the loss.
The road defeat dropped the Blue Jackets to the 5th spot in the NHL Eastern Conference Wild Card standings, sitting at 71 points, trailing the Rangers and Islanders. Werenski expressed his disappointment, believing the team deserved better. “I feel like that’s usually what happens when you play well,” he added.
Currently mired in a six-game losing streak, the Blue Jackets had previously fallen to the Panthers 1-0 before the loss to Sidney Crosby’s Penguins. In an effort to stay optimistic, Werenski remarked, “Still a lot of hockey to be played and stay positive at the bright side of things.”
Tough Results for the Blue Jackets, but Hope Remains
March has brought minimal points for the Blue Jackets, with only two victories: one against the Red Wings and another against the Rangers, the latter on March 9. Most of their losses have come at home, where the team has struggled to capitalize on the home-ice advantage.
The Blue Jackets still have time to bounce back. They need to win more games to rack up points, and as Werenski highlighted, they must focus on the positives as they approach the remaining three games in March against the Islanders, Canucks, and Senators.