Jet Greaves blanks Stars as Blue Jackets keep rolling
Jet Greaves made 28 saves and Zach Werenski scored the only goal in the Columbus Blue Jackets' 1-0 shutout of the visiting Dallas Stars on Thursday.
Columbus has won five of its last six games and improved to 4-1-0 under new head coach Rick Bowness.
Greaves earned his first shutout of the season and third of his career. Greaves pushed his record to 15-12-6 with a 2.62 goals-against average and .910 save percentage in 34 games this season as he has moved into the starter's role in Columbus.
Isac Lundestrom had an assist in his return to the Jackets' lineup. Columbus activated Lundestrom (13-game absence) and Mason Marchment (eight-game absence) from the injured reserve prior to Thursday's game.
Dallas was shut out for the second time this season as the Stars have scored one or fewer goals in four of their last five games. After a red-hot start to the season, the Stars are 3-7-4 in their last 14 games.
Stars forward Justin Hryckowian rang a shot off the crossbar with 1:11 remaining in regulation. Jason Robertson hit the goalpost during a Dallas power play in the first period.
Casey DeSmith stopped 21 of 22 shots, coming up just short in the goaltending duel.
At 8:48 of the first period, Werenski converted a perfectly placed wrist shot from just inside the circle. It was Werenski's 19th marker of the season as he leads the Blue Jackets and all NHL defensemen in goals.
The one-goal lead stayed the same despite several quality chances at both ends of the ice. Both teams sent some dangerous shots off target, then Greaves and DeSmith did the rest with superb goaltending.
Greaves' top save came 5:16 into the third period. Mavrik Bourque found space for a partial breakaway toward the Blue Jackets' net, but Greaves made a fantastic stop to preserve the shutout.
Dallas outshot Columbus by a 22-13 margin over the last two periods, but Greaves held steady against the pressure. The Stars pulled DeSmith for the final 3:13, yet couldn't find the equalizer with the 6-on-5 advantage.