Zach Werenski Has Three Assists As Team USA Advances To Sunday's Gold Medal Game

By Ed Francis on February 20, 2026 at 6:51 pm
Zach Werenski had three assists for Team USA in their 6-2 defeat of Team Slovakia on Friday — and etched his name into the Columbus Blue Jackets' record book yet again.
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The world is (again) finding out what Columbus Blue Jacket fans already knew:

Zach Werenski is one of the best in the world.

The Blue Jackets' defenseman had three more assists Friday for Team USA, as the Americans defeated Team Slovakia 6-2 to advance to Sunday's gold medal game.

All of the assists were of the primary variety, meaning it was his pass that directly led to the goal.

The first assist came less than five minutes into the game as Werenski sprung his Detroit Red Wings forward (and close friend) Dylan Larkin, who made it 1-0.

With the United States up 2-0 in the second period, Werenski's second assist of the game led to a goal by Jack Hughes of the New Jersey Devils, giving the United States a 3-0 lead:

With the United States up 4-0 after a goal from the Vegas Golden Knights' Jack Eichel, Hughes would get his second of the game — with another assist from Werenski — to make it a 5-0 USA lead: 

Werenski has five points (one goal, four assists) in five games for Team USA and is now tied with Rick Nash for most points by a Blue Jacket player at a single Olympics. Nash had two goals and three assists in seven games for Team Canada at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

The United States will face Canada at 8:10 a.m. eastern time Sunday morning in the gold medal game. Canada, at -125, is a slight favorite. 

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