The NHL is going to have some tight races when it comes to the end-of-season awards, and the Columbus Blue Jackets might have a surprise entrant for a key one.

Werenski notched an assist, three blocked shots, two PIM and a plus-2 rating in Wednesday's 5-1 win over the Maple Leafs.

The Columbus Blue Jackets are currently battling for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, and the future of Ivan Provorov is unclear.

Blue Jackets' winning ways continue thanks to late-game heroics from Werenski and Marchenko in shootout win over Flyers.

Zach Werenski was slightly annoyed. The Columbus Blue Jackets were in a tailspin and on the way to another playoff-less spring.

Columbus Blue Jackets alternate captain Zach Werenski is leading the NHL in goals among defensemen this season.

The Blue Jackets ran out of gas — physically, emotionally or both — in the second period on Thursday, allowing the Hurricanes to score five consecutive goals on their way to a 7-4 win before 18,700. Carolina teed up 24 shots on goal in the second, the most the Blue Jackets have allowed in a period all season.

Adam Fantilli scored three goals for his first career hat trick, Elvis Merzlikins stopped 28 shots, and the Columbus Blue Jackets beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-1.

Slings helper Wednesday

One of the big reasons for the Blue Jackets’ winning streak is defenseman Zach Werenski. He comes into play Saturday leading the NHL in goals by a defenseman with 15 and points by a defenseman ...

Columbus took a 1-0 lead at 7:08 of the first period. After the Blue Jackets forced a turnover, Luca Del Bel Belluz fed a pass to Johnson, who scored five-hole from the left face-off circle. Kirill Marchenko made it 2-0 at 9:48 when he took a cross-ice backhand pass from Adam Fantilli and roofed a shot over Andersen’s glove.

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Frederik Andersen became the second-fastest goaltender to reach 300 wins as the Carolina Hurricanes scored five straight goals in the second period to rally past the Columbus Blue Jackets for a 7-4 win at Lenovo Center on Thursday.