NHL On Tap: Avalanche visit Senators as MacKinnon nears 700-assist milestone
The NHL schedule for January 28, 2026 includes three games, highlighted by Colorado’s visit to Ottawa with Nathan MacKinnon close to 700 career assists. The slate also features Flyers-Blue Jackets and Rangers-Islanders, with several players and teams tracking toward key milestones and playoff positioning.
Three-game NHL slate on January 28, 2026
There are three games on the NHL schedule for Wednesday, January 28, 2026. The night includes a rivalry matchup in New York, a nationally televised contest featuring Columbus, and a marquee game in Ottawa with the Colorado Avalanche visiting the Senators.
MacKinnon closes in on 700 assists
Colorado star Nathan MacKinnon enters the day two assists shy of 700 for his NHL career, a milestone that would further cement his standing among the league’s elite playmakers. His production has been a major driver of the Avalanche’s strong season, and the matchup against Ottawa gives him an immediate opportunity to reach the mark.
The Senators, meanwhile, are fighting for position and trying to close ground in the Eastern Conference standings. For Ottawa, containing Colorado’s transition speed and limiting MacKinnon’s time and space will be central to the game plan.
Flyers at Blue Jackets: Werenski’s big January
Philadelphia visits Columbus in a game that shines a spotlight on Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski, who has been productive in January after returning from a late-December injury absence. Columbus has leaned on Werenski for offense from the back end, and the matchup offers another test against a Flyers team that often plays with pace and forechecking pressure.
As the season moves deeper into the winter calendar, games like this can matter as much for momentum as for the standings: teams evaluate lineup combinations, special teams, and whether they can string together consistent performances as the trade deadline approaches.
Rangers at Islanders: Carson Soucy faces old team
The New York Rangers visit the New York Islanders in a matchup shaped by roster movement. Defenseman Carson Soucy, recently acquired by the Islanders, is set to face the Rangers almost immediately after the trade, adding a personal subplot to an already intense local rivalry.
Rivalry games tend to turn on details—discipline, net-front battles, and goaltending—especially when familiarity reduces tactical surprise. For fans, the cross-town setting adds intensity regardless of where the teams sit in the standings.
Full schedule (Jan. 28, 2026)
- New York Rangers at New York Islanders
- Philadelphia Flyers at Columbus Blue Jackets
- Colorado Avalanche at Ottawa Senators
With milestones in reach and teams jockeying for positioning, the short slate still carries meaningful storylines—headlined by MacKinnon’s chase for 700 assists and a trade-fueled edge in the New York matchup.