NHL On Tap: Draisaitl, Oilers host Rangers

Welcome to NHL On Tap. Three NHL.com writers will share what they are most looking forward to on the schedule each day. Today, their choices from the five games Friday.

Oilers, Rangers in heavyweight battle

It's no surprise six weeks into the season that Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid are atop the NHL scoring race for the 8-1-0 Edmonton Oilers, winners of three straight and leading the Pacific Division. But who figured the 6-2-2 New York Rangers, the Oilers' opponent at Rogers Place (9:30 p.m. ET, SNW, MSG+, ESPN+, NHL LIVE), would be in sight of the Metropolitan Division lead, four points behind the Carolina Hurricanes? Through nine games, Draisaitl has scored 20 points (nine goals, 11 assists), one point more than McDavid (seven goals, 12 assists). Forward Chris Kreider is easily New York's biggest scoring threat with a team-leading seven goals in 10 games. Enjoy what must be a divided-loyalties matchup for Mark Messier, the Hall of Famer and TNT analyst who was captain on each team for their most recent Stanley Cup title -- the Oilers in 1990, the Rangers in 1994. -- Dave Stubbs, columnist

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Blackhawks try to climb out of hole

The Chicago Blackhawks (1-8-2) won for the first time this season on Monday, a 5-1 victory against the Ottawa Senators, and were defeated 4-3 by the Carolina Hurricanes on Wednesday. It may not be a lot to build on for Chicago, which had high aspirations this season after making several offseason moves, but it's at least a starting place. Forward Patrick Kane has scored seven points (four goals, three assists) in a three-game point streak, center Jonathan Toews has four assists in his past four games and defenseman Seth Jones has provided an offensive spark with seven assists and 22 shots on goal in his past seven games. The Blackhawks visit the Winnipeg Jets at Canada Life Centre (8 p.m. ET, TSN3, NBCSCH, ESPN+, NHL LIVE) and will try to gain ground to make up for their slow start. -- Rob Reese, fantasy editor

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Terry looks to stay hot against Coyotes

Tune in to see Troy Terry when the Anaheim Ducks host the Arizona Coyotes at Honda Center (10 p.m. ET; ESPN+, HULU, NHL LIVE). The 24-year-old forward has scored 12 points (seven goals, five assists) during a nine-game point streak. Only one Anaheim player in the past decade has had a longer point streak: captain Ryan Getzlaf, who had one lasting 14 games in 2013-14 and an 11-game run in 2015-16. Terry already has tied his NHL career high for goals in a season, and he needs eight points to tie his NHL career high for points. -- Nicholas J. Cotsonika, columnist

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Friday's schedule

Chicago Blackhawks at Winnipeg Jets (8 p.m. ET; TSN3, NBCSCH, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Last season with the Vegas Golden Knights, Marc-Andre Fleury won the Vezina Trophy, voted the best goalie in the NHL. This season with the Blackhawks, Fleury is 1-6-0 with a 3.96 GAA and .886 save percentage. If he plays against the Jets, he will face a team that is 5-0-1 in its past six games and averaging 3.44 goals per game this season, sixth in the NHL. Forward Kyle Connor leads Winnipeg with 14 points (seven goals, seven assists).
New York Rangers at Edmonton Oilers (9:30 p.m. ET; SNW, MSG+, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Oilers goalie Mikko Koskinen is 6-1-0 with a 2.18 GAA and .934 save percentage filling in for injured Mike Smith.
Nashville Predators at Vancouver Canucks (10 p.m. ET; SNP, BSSO, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Predators are coming off a 5-2 loss at the Oilers on Wednesday, but that defeat ended a four-game winning streak and was the second game of a back-to-back set. Roman Josi leads Nashville with 11 points (three goals, eight assists) and is tied for the scoring lead among NHL defenseman with Kevin Shattenkirk of the Anaheim Ducks (three goals, eight assists) and Adam Fox of the Rangers (two goals, nine assists). The Canucks had lost three straight in regulation before a 3-2 overtime win against the Rangers on Tuesday. Center J.T. Miller leads Vancouver with 11 points (three goals, eight assists).
Arizona Coyotes at Anaheim Ducks (10 p.m. ET; ESPN+, HULU, NHL LIVE)
Anaheim has not lost in regulation in its past four games (2-0-2) and it is 10th in the NHL averaging 3.18 goals per game. Arizona is the only team in the NHL without a win (0-9-1) and has scored six goals in its past seven games.
New Jersey Devils at Los Angeles Kings (10:30 p.m. ET; ESPN+, HULU, NHL LIVE)
The Kings have won three in a row following a six-game losing streak (0-5-1), and forward Alex Iafallo has scored six points (three goals, three assists) during a four-game point streak. The Devils are 1-2-1 in their past four games. Defenseman Dougie Hamilton did not play the final two periods of a 4-0 loss at Anaheim on Wednesday because of a lower-body injury and did not practice Thursday. He has scored six points (two goals, four assists), tied for the New Jersey lead with forward Andreas Johnsson (four goals, two assists) and center Pavel Zacha (four goals, two assists).