NHL On Tap: Connor, Jets look to stay hot, host Ducks 

There are four games on the NHL schedule for Friday, one of which is televised nationally in the United States. Here are five things to watch today, along with the complete game schedule.

Connor's climb

Kyle Connor will move into sole possession of third place on the Winnipeg Jets' all-time goals list if he scores against the Anaheim Ducks at Canada Life Centre (8 p.m. ET; SN, SN1, KCOP-13, Prime Video). Connor scored two goals in a 3-2 comeback win against the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday to move into a tie with Ilya Kovalchuk for third place, each with 328 goals with the Jets/Thrashers franchise. Connor, who has five goals in four games this season, trails Jets center Mark Scheifele (372 goals). He needs seven to tie Dale Hawerchuk (379). The Jets (3-0-1) are off to a strong start with 10 goals allowed in four games, including six in a three-game winning streak. Stuart Skinner is 2-0-1 with a 2.62 goals-against average and .920 save percentage. The Ducks (2-1-0) hope to recover from a 5-2 loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday, when Beckett Sennecke scored twice on the power play in the first period to give them a 2-0 lead that they couldn't hold. Leo Carlsson leads the Ducks with seven points (one goal, six assists).

Drive for five

The New York Rangers can extend their winning streak to five games when they play the Washington Capitals at Capital One Arena (7 p.m. ET; MNMT, NHLN, MSG). The Rangers' hot start after a 3-0 opening-night loss to the Boston Bruins has been driven by goalie Igor Shesterkin, who is 3-1-0 with a 1.75 GAA and .926 save percentage. Shesterkin also has a goal and an assist. Alexis Lafreniere is coming off his third NHL hat trick in a 5-2 win against the New York Islanders on Tuesday. He scored two goals into the empty net. The Rangers (4-1-0) have five empty-net goals in their four-game winning streak. They have not allowed a goal in the first period this season. The Capitals (2-1-0) won their home opener Wednesday, 5-3 against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Lafreniere becoming 'more complete player' for Rangers

Vezina favorites

Arguably the key matchup in the first of four games between the Rangers and Capitals this season is between the pipes. Shesterkin and Capitals goalie Logan Thompson are two of the top candidates for the Vezina Trophy as the League's best goalie this season. In NHL.com's early-season Vezina Trophy tracker vote, Thompson finished second behind Andrei Vasilevskiy of the Tampa Bay Lightning. Shesterkin was seventh, but a continued strong start by the Rangers should boost his standing. Thompson has won both of his starts with a 2.50 GAA and .921 save percentage, allowing five goals on 63 shots. Shesterkin has allowed seven goals on 95 shots in his four starts.

Trophy Tracker: NHL.com's early-season choice for Vezina

Jackets back on

The Columbus Blue Jackets’ quirky schedule to start the season had them playing two games in three nights before taking the next five off. They're back in action against the Pittsburgh Penguins at Nationwide Arena (7 p.m. ET; CBJHN, CBJNHL, SN-PIT, SN+, TVAS) and looking to gain some traction in the first game of a back-to-back. The Blue Jackets (1-1-0) play their first road game of the season at the St. Louis Blues on Saturday. The task at hand is to handle their business at home against the Penguins (2-2-0), who have lost their past two games after winning their first two of the season. The Blue Jackets lost 4-1 to the Utah Mammoth on Saturday. Matthew Knies can build on his strong start in Columbus. The forward, acquired by the Blue Jackets from the Toronto Maple Leafs on Sept. 28, has four points (two goals, two assists) in two games.

Larkin looking for more

Dylan Larkin can build on his strong season debut when the Detroit Red Wings play the Seattle Kraken at Little Caesars Arena (7 p.m. ET; Prime Video, DSN, KONG, KING). Larkin helped the Red Wings to a 5-3 win against the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday with a goal and an assist. Amidst all the trade talk swirling around him because of his trade request coupled with an injury that kept him out of action in the preseason, the presence in the lineup of Detroit's now former captain clearly made a difference in the Red Wings securing their first win after losing two straight without Larkin to open the season. Larkin's situation as it relates to his trade request is unchanged, but regardless he still can help the Red Wings rebound from a sluggish first two games and get going in the right direction. That was evident against Ottawa. Jordan Eberle can set a Kraken record for longest point streak to start a season. Seattle's captain has a point in all four games. But the Kraken (2-2-0) have been feast or famine to start the season; they have a pair of 6-1 wins against the Calgary Flames, but also a 6-2 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights and 3-1 to the Edmonton Oilers. Kraken center Matty Beniers needs one point to reach 200 for his career.

The schedule

Seattle Kraken at Detroit Red Wings (7 p.m. ET; Prime Video, DSN, KONG, KING)

New York Rangers at Washington Capitals (7 p.m. ET; MNMT, NHLN, MSG)

Pittsburgh Penguins at Columbus Blue Jackets (7 p.m. ET; CBJHN, CBJNHL, SN-PIT, SN+, TVAS)

Anaheim Ducks at Winnipeg Jets (8 p.m. ET; SN, SN1, KCOP-13, Prime Video)