One positive sign from the shutout loss to Chicago was seeing Zach Werenski back on the ice and looking like Zach Werenski.
No. 8 left the Feb. 4 win vs. Dallas late with a lower-body injury and was out for three games, returning for the CBJ's Feb. 13 game at Chicago. But head coach John Tortorella didn't like the way Werenski -- who said he tweaked his injury that day -- was moving around during the game, so he opted to keep him on the sideline for the last four games until he was closer to 100 percent.
Zach looked like the full Werenski on Thursday night, setting up defensive partner Seth Jones at the doorstep early in the game and playing 24:58. Though he picked up a minus on Chicago's empty-net goal at the end, Werenski turned in a solid outing, with the Jackets holding an edge of 1.47-0.40 in expected goals at 5-on-5 when he was on the ice,
per Natural Stat Trick
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Afterward, he said he felt much closer to 100 percent this time around than his previous attempt at returning.
"Yeah, I felt a lot better," he said. "Just my skating felt better, and for me to have success in this league, I have to be a skater. I felt limited in that game (Feb. 13). Tonight I felt better and I feel like I was moving pretty well tonight. Still have to be better, still some plays I need to make, but I definitely felt better."
Michael Del Zotto also returned after missing Tuesday's contest with a lower-body injury, and having the defensive corps at full strength should help as the team tries to solidify its defensive game.