As the NHL approaches the Olympic break, several teams and players made headlines on Wednesday, February 4th. Here's a look at the key stories from around the league:

Avalanche Continue to Lead the Pack

The Colorado Avalanche, the league's top team, secured a 4-2 victory against the San Jose Sharks. Josh Manson's third-period goal broke the tie, while Artturi Lehkonen contributed two goals to the Avalanche's cause. Nathan MacKinnon also had a notable performance, assisting on two goals and reaching 700 career assists, joining Joe Sakic as the only players in Avalanche history to achieve this milestone. MacKinnon ranks as the third-fastest active skater to reach 700 assists behind Connor McDavid and Sidney Crosby.

Blue Jackets Extend Winning Streak

The Columbus Blue Jackets are on a roll, as Zach Werenski's 20th goal of the season propelled them to a 7th straight victory. This win streak is the longest for the team since 2017-18. Werenski is the first defenseman in the NHL this season to reach the 20-goal mark before the Olympic break. Inspired by a recent "Miracle on Ice" documentary, Werenski is heading to the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 early to attend the Opening Ceremonies.

Stars Surge with Benn's Late Goal

Jamie Benn scored with just 23 seconds remaining in regulation, securing a 5-4 victory for the Dallas Stars over the St. Louis Blues and extending their winning streak to six games. Jason Robertson also had a significant night, scoring his 200th career goal. Robertson became the 12th player to reach the 200-goal mark with the Stars/North Stars franchise and is the second-fastest to reach the milestone with the team, behind only Dino Ciccarelli.

Hurricanes Prevail over Senators

The Carolina Hurricanes defeated the Ottawa Senators 4-3, marking their seventh win in the last nine games. Sebastian Aho continued his scoring streak, netting a goal for the third consecutive game, while Seth Jarvis scored twice in a span of just over two minutes. Jordan Staal contributed the game-winning goal in the third period. Aho's performance allowed him to reach 20 goals for the 10th straight season, tying Ron Francis for the most consecutive 20-goal campaigns in Hurricanes history.

Flames Douse Oilers

In a provincial rivalry matchup, the Calgary Flames defeated the Edmonton Oilers 4-3. Ryan Lomberg's goal in the third period proved to be the game-winner. Matvei Gridin had a goal and an assist, marking his first multi-point game in the NHL. With this win, the Flames secured the season series against the Oilers, winning three of the four meetings.

Other Notable Events

• Injured Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Caleb Jones has been suspended for 20 games for violating the NHL/NHLPA Performance Enhancing Substances Program. Jones stated that he believes he was exposed to a contaminated substance while undergoing exosome therapy.
• The New Jersey Devils acquired centerman Nick Bjugstad from St. Louis in exchange for Thomas Bordeleau and a conditional 2026 fourth-round draft pick.
• Sidney Crosby of the Penguins and Rasmus Dahlin of the Sabres will captain their respective teams before heading to the Olympics.

As teams prepare for the Olympic break, the competition remains fierce, with several players and teams hitting milestones and solidifying their positions in the standings. The "Battle of Florida" between the Panthers and Lightning is set to be a highlight before the break.