Another 20-goal season from Zach Werenski lifted the Blue Jackets to their seventh straight win – extending the NHL’s longest streak. Inspired in part by the recent “Miracle on Ice” documentary, Werenski is taking an early flight to the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 to attend the Opening Ceremonies and capture the full experience.
* Thirty-goal scorer Matt Boldy will also represent Team USA next week, but first he netted the fastest hat trick to begin a game in Wild history as Minnesota fended off Nashville in a back-and-forth affair.
* Various Olympic-bound players made their presence felt during a 10-game Wednesday as eight factored on either the game-winning or game-deciding goal.
* The regular season’s fourth and final rendition of the “Battle of Florida” highlights a heavy Eastern Conference slate as the two clubs meet on ESPN+ and Hulu.
WERENSKI HELPS BLUE JACKETS BOLSTER WIN STREAK WITH 20TH GOAL OF 2025-26
Zach Werenski (1-0—1) became the NHL’s first defenseman to score 20 goals this season as the Blue Jackets (29-20-7, 65 points) blanked the Blackhawks to extend their win streak to seven contests – their longest since a 10-game stretch in 2017-18 – and move within two points of the Islanders (31-21-5, 67 points) for third in the Metropolitan Division. Wednesday marked just the second time in franchise history that Columbus earned shutout wins on consecutive days, following Feb. 22-23, 2019.
* Werenski (Team USA) became the first defenseman to record 20 goals before an Olympic break. In the process, he tied Kirill Marchenko, Oliver Bjorkstrand and David Vyborny (all w/ 3) for the fifth-most 20-goal seasons in Blue Jackets history, behind Rick Nash (8), Cam Atkinson (6), R.J. Umberger (4) and Boone Jenner (4).
* The Blue Jackets became the fifth team to record a winning streak of seven-plus games this season after not competing in the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2025, following the Ducks (2x; 7 GP), Sabres (10 GP), Bruins (7 GP) and Mammoth (7 GP). The only other campaign to feature as many was 2021-22: Flames (10 GP), Ducks (8 GP), Canucks (7 GP), Stars (7 GP), Rangers (7 GP) and Kings (7 GP).
* Additionally, Rick Bowness improved to 10-1-0 since taking Columbus’ helm and matched the NHL record for fewest games by a head coach to 10 wins with a franchise (11 GP), a mark shared by Scott Arneil (w/ WPG in 2024-25), Jim Montgomery (w/ BOS in 2022-23), Patrick Roy (w/ COL in 2013-14), John Paddock (w/ OTT in 2007-08), Mike Babcock (w/ DET in 2005-06) and Marc Crawford (w/ QUE in 1994-95).
WILD OUTLAST PREDATORS IN BACK-AND-FORTH AFFAIR AT BRIDGESTONE ARENA
The Wild and Predators combined for six goals in the first period, highlighted by Matt Boldy’s fourth career hat trick within the opening 12:58 of play, and then traded leads in the second and third period before Boldy (3-1—4) and Kirill Kaprizov (0-1—1) collected assists on Jared Spurgeon’s game-winning goal in the final minute of overtime. Minnesota-Nashville (2) was one of two games to feature multiple lead changes Wednesday (FLA-BOS: 2).
* Boldy (12:58) matched a franchise record for goals in a period and scored the fastest hat trick to start a game in franchise history, besting Zach Parise (16:33 on March 24, 2016). Overall, he scored the second-fastest three goals by a Wild player (any time of game), behind Joel Eriksson Ek (2:18 on April 9, 2025).
* Kaprizov has made a habit of rising to the occasion for the Wild in overtime this season and has factored on each of Minnesota’s nine goals beyond regulation (4-5—9). He not only tied Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl (both w/ 9 in 2024-25) for the most overtime points in a single season in NHL history but also owns the longest streak of factoring on overtime goals in League history (next closest: Johnny Gaudreau, 7 in 2022-23 w/ CBJ).
* Quinn Hughes (0-2—2) found the score sheet twice during the first-period flurry and established the longest assist streak in franchise history (10 GP). Hughes became the first defenseman in NHL history to register an assist streak of 10 games in his first season with a franchise, breaking a tie with Tom Kurvers (9 GP in 1991-92 w/ NYI) and Tom Edur (9 GP in 1977-78 w/ PIT).
ROBERTSON, BENN LIFT STARS TO SIXTH STRAIGHT VICTORY
After Jason Robertson (1-1—2) and Jamie Benn (2-1—3) put their team up 4-2, St. Louis battled back to pull even in the final 10 minutes of the third period but Benn scored with 23 seconds remaining in regulation – Dallas’ latest go-ahead goal this season – to lift the Stars to their sixth consecutive victory.
* Robertson scored his 200th career goal (200-259—459 in 431 GP) and became the 12th player to reach the mark with the Stars/North Stars. Robertson became the second-fastest player to reach the milestone with the franchise behind only Dino Ciccarelli (381 GP), while also becoming one of the fastest U.S.-born players to do so in NHL history.
OLYMPIC-BOUND STARS SHINE ON PENULTIMATE GAMEDAY BEFORE OLYMPIC BREAK
Several stars set to take the ice in the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 found the score sheet on the second-last gameday before they head across the Atlantic to represent their countries:
* Nathan MacKinnon (Team Canada) assisted on two of four Avalanche goals, including the game winner, to reach 700 in his career (407-701—1,108 in 925 GP). MacKinnon, the second player in franchise history to record 700 assists, became the third-fastest active skater to reach the milestone behind Olympic teammates Connor McDavid (699 GP) and Sidney Crosby (856 GP).
* Cale Makar (Team Canada) also played a part in Colorado’s victory against San Jose and collected an assist in his 450th career game (131-354—485 in 450 GP). His 354 career assists through the milestone contest are the fourth most in NHL history by a defenseman, behind Bobby Orr (415), Paul Coffey (381) and Quinn Hughes (369).
* Leon Draisaitl (Team Germany) scored two power-play goals and joined Jari Kurri (9 from 1981-82 – 1989-90) as the second player born outside of North America to register eight consecutive 80-point seasons. Only four players born and trained outside of North America have more career 80-point seasons than Draisaitl: Alex Ovechkin (10), Jaromir Jagr (10), Kurri (10) and Teemu Selanne (9).
* Mark Stone (Team Canada) assisted on two of five Golden Knights goals to lift the club to victory against the Canucks and boost his 2025-26 totals to 20-37—57 – the most by a Vegas player through 40 games in a season in franchise history, eclipsing Jack Eichel (56 in 2025-26). Stone has recorded a point in 85% of all of his games this season (34/40 GP), which trails only his soon-to-be Team Canada teammate Connor McDavid (44/51 GP; 86.3%) for the highest percentage of games with a point (min. 2 GP).
* Charlie McAvoy (Team USA) collected an assist to extend his point streak to seven games (1-9—10) in his final contest before heading to Milan. McAvoy tied the sixth-longest point streak by an Olympian heading into the Olympic break – on a list that includes two active runs by his soon-to-be American teammates (Quinn Hughes: 10 GP & Zach Werenski: 7 GP). Notably, Rasmus Dahlin and Tim Stützle both enter Thursday on a six-game streak.
BOBROVSKY RECORDS MILESTONE WIN IN #NHLSTATS: LIVE UPDATES
The latest edition of #NHLStats: Live Updates featured storylines aplenty from a 10-game Wednesday, including Sergei Bobrovsky’s 450th career win as he backstopped the Panthers (29-24-3, 61 points) past their Atlantic Division-rival Bruins (32-20-5, 69 points) in the first game of a TNT doubleheader. Bobrovsky became the eighth goaltender in NHL history to record 450 career wins.
QUICK CLICKS
* Artemi Panarin traded to Kings by Rangers, signs 2-year contract
* Radko Gudas’ son surprises defenseman as Czechia flag bearer during pregame ceremony
* Penguins’ Caleb Jones Suspended 20 Games
* NHL Foundation grants $50,000 to Hockey in New Jersey to boost girls program
* Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026: 1 Day from Opening Ceremonies, 6 from First Games
#NHLSTATS MEMOS TO MILAN: ONE MORE DAY OF NHL PLAY
The final day of NHL action until Wednesday, Feb. 25, will feature a heavy Eastern Conference slate including five intraconference matchups with a focus on the fourth and final “Battle of Florida” during the 2025-26 regular season (7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN+, Hulu, Sportsnet & TVA Sports).
* With the addition of reigning Conn Smythe Trophy winner Sam Bennett (FLA) to the Team Canada roster on Tuesday (replacing injured Lightning forward Anthony Cirelli), Florida (10) overtook its state rival Tampa Bay (9) for the most NHL players from one team heading to Milan. Eighteen of those players have played this month – Team Canada forward Brayden Point (TBL) last played Jan. 12. There has been one game already this season to feature as many players currently on Olympic rosters (18 on Jan. 25: FLA vs. MIN). The most tournament-bound players to dress in any NHL game is 18 (7x, including the one contest already in 2025-26).
* Islanders forward Ondrej Palat (Team Czechia) will face the Devils for the first time since being traded Jan. 28, during his final contest before heading to his second Olympic Winter Games. After renewing acquaintances with his former teammates tonight, Palat will do so again at least once in Milan when Team Czechia closes its round robin schedule against Nico Hischier, Timo Meier, Jonas Siegenthaler and Team Switzerland. That trio makes up nearly half of the seven-player New Jersey contingent heading to the Olympics – its largest ever.
* Sidney Crosby (PIT) and Rasmus Dahlin (BUF) will captain their NHL clubs one final time before representing Team Canada and Team Sweden, respectively. Two of 15 current NHL captains heading to Milan this week, Crosby and Dahlin will clash for two key points before the Olympic break – they both occupy a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference after multiple seasons outside the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
* Sebastian Aho (Team Finland) and the Hurricanes will ride into the Olympic break as Metropolitan Division leaders, a position they will have held for 76 days by the time the League wraps play tonight – second to only the Avalanche (111 days, also through Feb. 5) in terms of time spent atop a division this season. This NHL divisional game also previews a pair of Olympic pool matchups that will happen in less than 10 days: Aho and the Suomi face Mika Zibanejad (NYR) and rival Team Sweden on Feb. 13, while on Valentine’s Day Jaccob Slavin (CAR), J.T. Miller (NYR) and Vincent Trocheck (NYR) will lace up for Team USA against the Hurricanes and Team Denmark tandem Frederik Andersen and Nikolaj Ehlers.
* The only Western Conference clubs in action tonight will battle for crucial Pacific Division points – the top six teams are separated by eight points – before sending up to 14 players to the Olympics (VGK: 9 & LAK: 5). The 2025-26 campaign marks the first time at least six teams in the Pacific Division have been separated by a margin of eight points or fewer this late into a season (min. 66% of GP for each team); it is the second time in as many campaigns that any division has seen that happen (also 2024-25 Atlantic Division).
* The Kings (23-18-14, 60 points) acquired Artemi Panarin to benefit their push to the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs, who concluded his tenure with the Rangers with the highest point-per-game rate in franchise history (1.26 P/GP). Overall, Panarin is one of five players with at least 900 career points since his NHL debut in 2015-16.
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