Blue Jackets’ Werenski, Olivier leave game against Capitals due to injury

As if the Columbus Blue Jackets’ day couldn’t get any worse.

During the team’s game against the Washington Capitals on Monday night, both Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski and forward Mathieu Olivier suffered upper-body injuries and were ruled out once the third period began.

It has yet to be revealed what happened to either player.

Werenski had registered 17:36 of ice time across 17 shifts in the game. He put four shots on goal while blocking another. Olivier played just 4:49 on six shifts, delivering a hit and blocking a shot as well.

The Blue Jackets ended up losing 5-1. The injuries came hours after forward Kirill Marchenko suffered an upper-body injury while leaving the ice after morning skate.

Werenski, who has a long injury history, has played in each of the Blue Jackets’ first 22 games of the 2025-26 season. He has notched seven goals and 14 assists for 21 points, one point back of Marchenko for the team lead. Heading into the game, he had been averaging 26:50 of ice time a night, with a +8 rating.

It’s too early to speculate on the severity of Werenski’s injury. However, for a Columbus team that has been trying to show signs of improvement this year, losing its No. 1 defender won’t do the team any favors.

Olivier had also appeared in each game thus far. The 28-year-old has posted three goals and six assists for nine points, though he hasn’t scored a goal since his three-point performance against the Edmonton Oilers on Nov. 13. He has a +2 rating while averaging 14:25 of ice time per game.

The Blue Jackets (11-9-3) will be facing the last-place Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday night before American Thanksgiving.