Blue Jackets Blank Stars Behind Werenski’s Winner, Celebrate Coyle’s 1,000th Game in Style
The Columbus Blue Jackets are starting to find their groove, and Thursday night at Nationwide Arena was another step in the right direction. With a 1-0 win over the Dallas Stars, the Jackets not only picked up two crucial points in the standings-they also gave veteran forward Charlie Coyle a milestone night to remember.
Zach Werenski delivered the game’s lone goal, and Jet Greaves stood tall between the pipes, stopping all 28 shots he faced to earn his first shutout of the season. Columbus improves to 23-20-7 with 53 points, sitting 7th in the Metropolitan Division and seven points out of the playoff picture. But if they keep playing like this, they might just make things interesting down the stretch.
Werenski Stays Hot, Delivers the Decisive Blow
Werenski has been a steady force on the blue line all season, and he added another chapter to his standout campaign with his 19th goal of the year. The tally came 8:48 into the first period-marking the third straight game Columbus has scored within the opening 10 minutes. It was also Werenski’s 18th career game-winner, moving him past David Vyborny for fifth-most in franchise history.
He logged a heavy 27:45 of ice time, fired three shots on goal, and extended his recent tear-now with points in five of his last six games (3-4-7), and 14 of his last 16 (10-13-23). Against Dallas, Werenski has quietly built a strong track record, with 13 points in 21 career games, including 11 in 12 matchups at home.
Greaves Shuts the Door
Jet Greaves was rock-solid all night, turning aside every shot the Stars threw his way. It wasn’t just a performance-it was a statement.
The 22-year-old netminder earned the Blue Jackets’ first shutout of the 2025-26 season and the 21st 1-0 shutout win in franchise history. The last time Columbus won by that scoreline?
January 30, 2024, in St. Louis.
Greaves’ calm presence helped Columbus kill off both of Dallas’ power plays, continuing a dominant trend on the penalty kill. The Jackets have now stopped 24 of the last 25 power plays they’ve faced against Dallas-a staggering 96% success rate over the past 14 games in the series.
Coyle Hits 1,000 in Style
While the win was big, the night belonged to Charlie Coyle. The veteran forward laced up the skates for his 1,000th NHL game, joining a select group of players to hit that milestone while wearing a Blue Jackets sweater-Sergei Fedorov, Vinny Prospal, Scott Hartnell, and Jakub Voracek among them.
Coyle soaked in the moment with friends and family in attendance. His dad announced the lineup in the locker room, his family lit the cannon during the pregame ceremony, and his hometown crew even took part in a spirited game of bubble ball hockey during intermission. The team wore custom T-shirts to honor the East Weymouth, Massachusetts native, who now sits at 515 career points (199 goals, 316 assists) over 14 NHL seasons.
“There was a lot going on in my head,” Coyle admitted after the game. “I laid down for a nap and just stared at the back of my eyelids.
I didn’t sleep at all. I didn’t think I was nervous, but obviously there were some nerves in me.”
Team Trends: Jackets Heating Up
Columbus has now won five of its last six games (5-1-0) since January 11 and has collected points in five of its last six at home (4-1-1). They also completed a season sweep of the Stars for the first time since 2018-19, outscoring Dallas 6-1 over the two meetings this year.
The Jackets have now won three straight against the Stars dating back to last season, with a combined score of 12-5 in those matchups.
They continue to be strong starters, scoring the first goal of the game for the 29th time this season. When they do that, they’re 19-6-4 overall and 11-4-1 at Nationwide Arena.
By the Numbers
- Damon Severson logged 27:21 and picked up his 16th assist of the season. He’s been a quiet contributor, now with 11 points in 21 career games against Dallas.
- Isac Lundeström added his fifth assist of the season.
- Adam Fantilli led all Jackets forwards with 21:12 of ice time and dominated the faceoff dot, winning 16 of 24 draws (67%).
That’s a new single-game career high for the rookie.
- Mathieu Olivier brought the physicality, leading the team with five hits and five shots on goal.
Columbus also edged Dallas in faceoff wins (50.9%) and delivered 35 hits and 17 blocked shots in a gritty, all-around team effort.
What’s Next
The Blue Jackets are back at Nationwide Arena on Saturday night for a tough test against the Tampa Bay Lightning. With momentum building and confidence growing, this team is starting to believe. And if they keep stacking wins like this, belief might just turn into a playoff push.