The NHL’s Wednesday schedule features three games, with Colorado’s visit to Ottawa drawing extra attention because Nathan MacKinnon is closing in on a major milestone. MacKinnon enters the matchup two assists short of 700, a mark that would place him among the fastest active players to reach that total and further cement a season already defined by elite playmaking.
MacKinnon has 50 assists this season and is in a stretch of sustained production that puts him in rare company within the Avalanche/Nordiques franchise history. Colorado’s strong record has helped keep the club near the top of the standings, and the Senators game offers another opportunity for the team’s top line to dictate pace and possession.
Elsewhere on the slate, the Columbus Blue Jackets host the Philadelphia Flyers with defenseman Zach Werenski highlighted for a strong January run after missing time with a lower-body injury. Werenski’s recent point totals underscore how quickly a top defenseman can swing outcomes, particularly for teams balancing special teams, transition offense, and tighter checking as the season grinds on.
The third game puts the Islanders and Rangers together shortly after a trade that sent defenseman Carson Soucy to the Islanders. Soucy is expected to face familiar teammates almost immediately, a reminder of how the league’s transaction calendar can turn a routine rivalry game into a narrative-heavy return for a player adapting to a new system.
With only three matchups on the docket, Wednesday’s NHL spotlight narrows: a milestone chase, a productive month from a top blueliner, and a freshly traded defender stepping into a rivalry. For fans and bettors alike, the smaller schedule increases focus on goaltending choices, special-teams efficiency, and whether star players can seize the moment in games with outsized attention.