Connor Hellebuyck made 29 saves for the Jets (9-6-4), who have one point in their past four games while scoring four goals.
"I wasn't overly concerned about our offensive game, believe it or not, but we're going to have to find different ways to get pucks to the net," Winnipeg coach Paul Maurice said. "Tonight was the first time I thought we were looking for offense at the expense of our defense. That's the only time I've been concerned about it."
Jets center Pierre-Luc Dubois and Blue Jackets center Jack Roslovic each played against his former team for the first time since the Jan. 23, 2021 trade that also sent forward Patrik Laine from Winnipeg to Columbus.
Hofmann scored at 15:09 of the first period for a 1-0 lead. Max Domi started a rush on the right wing and passed to the left circle for Hofmann's wrist shot that Hellebuyck got a piece of but could not save.
The Jets were 0-for-4 on the power play and have scored one goal in their past 22 attempts in a nine-game span.
"We had some good chances, and he [Merzlikins] made some good saves, but it felt like we could have tested him more," Winnipeg forward Andrew Copp said.
Werenski's power-play goal at 6:49 of the third period made it 2-0. He took a pass from Jakub Voracek at the top of the right circle and skated to the face-off dot.
"I didn't even look. It was a feel shot," Werenski said. "We were up by one, middle of the period. Figured I shoot. I was pretty low in the zone. I just closed my eyes and shot it."
The defenseman has scored eight points (three goals, five assists) in a six-game point streak.
"Werenski's goal was huge," Blue Jackets coach Brad Larsen said. "Gives us a little breathing room. The timing of it, to get a two-goal lead is much different than one shot and they are tied. They came through huge at the right time."
