By Carey Van Lue

GAME AT A GLANCE

THREE STARS 1^st – Z. Werenski, CBJ (0-4-4); 2^nd – B. Jenner, CBJ (2-0-2); 3^rd – C. Sillinger, CBJ (1-1-2, GWG)

GOAL SCORERS
Columbus: B. Jenner (9), E. Gudbranson (2), PP – B. Jenner (10), C. Sillinger (1), D. Voronkov (3), K. Marchenko (5), P. Laine (3)

Chicago: C. Bedard (10), J. Dickinson (3), R. Johnson (2)

GOALTENDERS
Columbus: E. Merzlikins (33 saves, W)
Chicago: P. Mrazek (13 saves on 18 shots on 32:16 TOI, L); A. Soderblom (6 saves on 8 shots on 27:40 TOI)

SPECIAL TEAMS
Columbus PP:  1-for-3, 2 shots
Chicago PP:  0-for-4, 4 shots

BLUE JACKETS TEAM NOTES

• The Blue Jackets improved to 3-1-0 in the last four games vs. the Blackhawks following tonight’s 7-3 victory.
• The winning team has scored four-plus goals in seven-straight contests in the series and nine of the last 11.
• Meeting for the 100^th time in the all-time series, the seven goals scored was tied for the second-most in a game against Chicago (third time), trailing only the eight goals in an 8-3 win on Mar. 25, 2010.
• The seven goals scored was also the most scored in a game this season for the club.
• CBJ went one-for-three on the power play tonight and have now recorded a power play goal in each of the past four games of the series against the Hawks (4-of-13; 30.8 pct.).
• Columbus blocked 18 shots tonight and has been credited with 169 blocked shots over the past nine contests and 378 in 20 games this season.
• CBJ blueliners posted 1-7-8 tonight and have now combined for 7-41-48 over the past 17 contests and 9-44-53 in 20 games this season.
• The Blue Jackets killed off all four of the Blackhawks’ power play opportunities tonight.  The club has now killed off 32-of-34 opponent power play opportunities over the past 13 contests dating back to Oct. 28 (94.1 pct.) and 44-of-48 opponent power play chances over the last 17 games since Oct. 20 (91.7 pct.).
• CBJ rookies recorded 1-1-2 tonight and have posted 8-14-22 in 20 games this season.
• Columbus scored three goals in the first period of tonight’s game and has now scored two-plus goals in nine of the past first periods and has collected 23 goals in the first period this season.
• The Blue Jackets played their first of 5 Wednesday games this season (two at home).
• Tonight’s attendance was a sellout crowd of 18, 158.

BLUE JACKETS PLAYER NOTES_­

• D Zach Werenski recorded four assists tonight to set a new franchise record for most assists by a defenseman in a single-game and tie the record for most points by a defenseman (fourth time, second time by Werenski).  He is also the third NHL defenseman with a four-assist game in 2023-24 joining Josh Morrissey (0-4—4 on Nov. 14) and Quinn Hughes (1-4—5 on Nov. 2).  Werenski (0-10-10) collected his 10^th assist of November tonight, tying the franchise record for most assists by a defenseman in a single month (Seth Jones – Feb. 2021; James Wisniewski – Jan. 2014; Ryan Murray – Jan. 2014 and Ron Hainsey – Dec. 2006).  He now has assists in six of his past seven games (0-9-9; overall, 1-14-15 in 18 GP).  The blueliner has 2-10-12 in 15 career contests against Chicago, recording assists in five of his past seven appearances against the club (0-9-9), including multiple points in the past two games (0-6-6).
• C Boone Jenner notched his second multi-goal game of the season and 17^th of his career with 2-0-2 to give him points in three consecutive outings (3-1-4; overall, 10-3-13 in 20 GP).  He has recorded at least 10 goals through his first 20 games of a season for the second time in his career (also 2021-22: 10) – just two other Blue Jackets players in the past decade have had a double-digit goal total through their first 20 games of a season: Cam Atkinson (13 in 2018-19) and Nick Foligno (10 in 2014-15).  The center improved to 6-4-10 in 20 career games vs. the Blackhawks, recording points in six of his past eight games against the club (6-3-9).
• LW Johnny Gaudreau collected an assist in his 100th career game with the Blue Jackets (23-59—82 in 100 GP).  His 59 assists and 82 points are the third-most among all players through the benchmark contest with the franchise behind Artemi Panarin (32-71—103) and Ray Whitney (32-64—96).  He now has 9-20-29 in 23 career games vs. Chicago, including points in 17 of 23 career games with 10 multi-point efforts; has also notched 3-13-16 with five multi-point efforts while registering points in all 11 home appearances vs. the Blackhawks.
• D Ivan Provorov registered his 12^th assist of the season to extend his points-streak to four-straight games (1-3-4; overall, 1-12-13 in 20 GP), tying his career-high points streak for the fifth time (MR: 0-4-4 from Oct. 20-26, 2023).
• RW Kirill Marchenko tallied his eighth career multi-point game with 1-1-2 to give him 5-6-11 in 18 games this season. He now has 3-1-4 in three career outings vs. the Blackhawks, scoring goals in all three career games against the club.
• LW Dmitri Voronkov scored his third goal of the campaign, giving him points in five of his past eight games (1-4-5) and in nine of his first 14 NHL games (3-6-9).
• D Erik Gudbranson scored his second goal of the season and now has 1-4-5 in his past seven contests (overall, 2-6-8 in 20 GP).
• C Adam Fantilli registered his sixth assist of the campaign, giving him 2-2-4 in his last eight appearances (overall, 4-6-10 in 20 GP).  At 19 years and 41 days, he is the third-youngest player in franchise history at the time of his 10th career NHL point, behind Rick Nash (18 years, 202 days) and Cole Sillinger (18 years, 301 days).
• C Cole Sillinger scored his first goal of the campaign and added an assist for his sixth career multi-point game, giving him 1-2-3 in his past three outings (overall, 1-7-8 in 20 GP).
• LW Patrik Laine scored his third goal of the season to give him 3-1-4 in 10 GP.  He improved to 18-9-27 in 29 career games vs. the Blackhawks with points in 10 of his past 13 contests vs. the club (12-4-16).
• RW Yegor Chinakhov recorded his first assist of the season and now has 1-1-2 in nine games.  He improved to 1-2-3 in three career games vs. Chicago.
• D Adam Boqvist recorded his first two assists of the campaign for his eighth career multi-assist game(MR: Jan. 25, 2023 at EDM).
• D Jake Bean skated in his 100^th career game as a Blue Jacket (9-25-34).

BLUE JACKETS POST-GAME AUDIO INTERVIEWS

HC Pascal Vincent | F Boone Jenner | F Cole Sillinger | D Zach Werenski

BLACKHAWKS POST-GAME AUDIO INTERVIEWS

HC Luke Richardson

BLUE JACKETS UPCOMING SCHEDULE

Thursday, Nov. 23                   Practice – 12pm ET at Nationwide Arena

Friday, Nov. 24                         at New Jersey – 3:00pm ET at Prudential Center

Saturday, Nov. 25                    Practice – 1:45pm ET at PNC Arena

POSTGAME RECAP COURTESY BLUE JACKETS COMMUNICATIONS