The CBJ defenseman is tied for the tournament scoring lead through three games as the United States has advanced to Thursday's title game
Zach Werenski has traded one shade of blue for another this month, suiting up for Team USA at the NHL’s 4 Nations Face-Off.
It’s a chance for the Blue Jackets defenseman to represent his country in a best-on-best tournament for the first time since joining the NHL, and it’s also an opportunity to take the Norris Trophy-caliber form he’s displayed all season and show it off on a stage featuring the best players in the world.
Through three games, Werenski has shown he has what it takes to be a standout on the international level, notching three assists in Team USA’s opening game win vs. Finland and adding another in Saturday night’s big win vs. Canada. With a fifth assist Monday vs. Sweden, he’s tied for the tournament scoring lead with five points with Canada’s Sidney Crosby.
BlueJackets.com will keep tabs on Werenski as the tournament heads to Thursday’s title game between the USA and Canada.
Thursday, Feb. 13: USA 6, Finland 1
Saturday, Feb. 15: USA 3, Canada 1
Monday, Feb. 17: Sweden 2, USA 1
Thursday, Feb. 20: Championship Game: USA vs. Canada (ESPN)
PREVIEW: Werenski ready to wear the Red, White and Blue
Feb. 17: Sweden 2, USA 1
Thirty-five seconds into Monday night’s game, Werenski notched his fifth assist of the tournament
Unfortunately, that was all the scoring for Team USA, as the Swedes scored twice in the second half of the first period and was able to hold the lead the rest of the way.
On the opening shift of the game, Werenski raced the puck up the right side of the ice and put a shot on goal, with Chris Kreider cleaning up the rebound to make it a 1-0 game.
Werenski was all over the ice from there, but the Americans couldn’t get another goal. The CBJ defenseman was named third star of the game, skating 23:44 and finishing with a plus-1 rating, six shots on goal and eight shot attempts.
Feb. 15: USA 3, Canada 1
In a showdown of the world’s top hockey powers that lived up to the billing, Werenski and Team USA earned a 3-1 win over Canada on Saturday night in a game that caught the attention of the sports world.
The anticipation for the showdown was high, and only heightened by the fact there were three fights in the first nine seconds of the game. In the end, the United States rallied from an early 1-0 deficit, scoring a goal in each period to get the win.
Werenski assisted on the opening goal by Jake Guentzel to give him four helpers in two games thus far. In the end, Werenski skated 13:47 as Team USA protected the lead, putting two shots on goal among his six shot attempts with two blocked shots.
With the win, the United States advanced to the championship game of the event with two wins in two contests.
Feb. 13: USA 6, Finland 1
Werenski had a historic three-point showing as Team USA pulled away to victory with four third-period goals against the Finns.
The CBJ defenseman notched three assists to tie the record for helpers by a defenseman in NHL international tournament history. Team North America’s Shayne Gostisbehere was the last to do so in the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.
Werenski had the second assist on the first goal for Team USA as Brady Tkachuk tied the game at 1 in the first period. He then added a pair of power-play helpers on Matthew Tkachuk goals in the third period, notching the first assist on tallies that made it 3-1 and 6-1.
Werenski also finished plus-2 and played a team-high 21:45.
