Ovechkin, Capitals can extend points streak; Rangers aim for first home victory

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Hurricanes seek seventh consecutive win

The Carolina Hurricanes look to continue their record-setting start when they play the Chicago Blackhawks in the second game of a back to back at PNC Arena on Friday (7 p.m. ET, BSSO, NBCSCH, ESPN+, NHL LIVE). Carolina’s 3-0 home win against the Boston Bruins on Thursday gave them a 6-0-0 start to the season, setting a Hurricanes/Hartford Whalers record for most consecutive victories to begin a season (5-0-0, 2019-20). Goalie Frederik Andersen has played all six games, with a 1.33 goals-against average and .956 save percentage, but will he start for the second straight night? Or will Antti Raanta make his Hurricanes debut against the team he started his NHL career with, the Blackhawks? At the same time Carolina has streaked to the top of the standings, Chicago (0-5-2) has struggled. Goalie Marc-Andre Fleury has a 5.75 GAA in four games and defenseman Seth Jones leads the Blackhawks with six points, all assists, but is a minus-9 in seven games. — Dave Stubbs, columnist

‘Great 8’ goes for eight

Can Alex Ovechkin continue to amaze? If the 36-year-old forward scores a point when the Washington Capitals host the Arizona Coyotes on Friday (7 p.m. ET; TVAS, NBCSWA, BSAZ, ESPN+, NHL LIVE), he will become the first NHL player age 36 or older to start a season with an eight-game point streak. If Ovechkin scores at least two goals, which he has done twice already this season, he can become the first NHL player 36 or older to score 10 goals before his 10th game of a season. Ovechkin has scored 13 points (eight goals, five assists) in seven games and can tie the Capitals record for longest season-pening point streak, which he set in 2005-06 and Alexander Semin matched in 2006-07. Oh, and with 738 goals, he’s three from tying Brett Hull for fourth in NHL history. He has 19 points (eight goals, 11 assists) in 20 games against the Coyotes. — Nicholas J. Cotsonika, columnist

Rangers look for first win on home ice

The New York Rangers (4-2-1) will be attempting to win for the first time at home this season when they host the Columbus Blue Jackets on Friday (7 p.m. ET; MSG, BSOH, ESPN+, NHL LIVE). The Rangers are off to an impressive 4-1-0 start on the road but are 0-1-1 at Madison Square Garden. They’re hoping a game against his former team will kickstart struggling forward Artemi Panarin, who has scored four points (one goal, three assists) in seven games. The 29-year-old agreed to a seven-year, $81.5 million contract ($11.6 million average annual value) with the Rangers on July 1, 2019, after spending the previous two seasons with the Blue Jackets and has gone on to score 157 points (50 goals, 107 assists) in 118 games in three seasons with New York. Coach Gerard Gallant said Thursday there is “a good chance” Panarin’s linemate, Kaapo Kakko, will play after missing four games with an upper-body injury. Columbus (4-2-0) has enjoyed a home-heavy schedule and lost its only road game thus far, 4-1 at the Detroit Red Wings on Oct. 19. — Mike Zeisberger, staff writer

Friday schedule

Florida Panthers at Detroit Red Wings (7 p.m. ET; ESPN+, HULU, NHL LIVE)

Andrew Brunette will coach the Panthers following the resignation of Joel Quenneville on Thursday. Quenneville stepped down after an independent investigation of how the Chicago Blackhawks, his former team, handled allegations by then-player Kyle Beach of sexual assault by then-video coach Brad Aldrich in 2010. The Panthers are 7-0-0 and lead the NHL with 14 points. The Red Wings (4-2-1) have won two straight, 6-3 at the Blackhawks on Sunday and 3-2 in overtime at the Washington Capitals on Wednesday. They are led by their top line of Tyler Bertuzzi (nine points; six goals, three assists), Lucas Raymond (eight points; four goals, four assists) and Dylan Larkin (eight points; three goals, five assists).

Columbus Blue Jackets at New York Rangers (7 p.m. ET; MSG, BSOH, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)

Blue Jackets goalie Elvis Merzlikins is 4-0-0 with a 1.47 goals-against average and .952 save percentage in four games. He has dedicated the season to goalie Matiss Kivlenieks, his former Blue Jackets teammate and fellow Latvia native who died in a fireworks accident July 4.

Arizona Coyotes at Washington Capitals (7 p.m. ET; TVAS, NBCSWA, BSAZ, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)

The Capitals (4-0-3) are on a seven-game point streak, tied for the second-longest point streak to start a season in Washington history; they started 7-0-0 in 2011-12 and 6-0-3 last season. The Coyotes (0-6-1) have lost five straight in regulation and have been outscored 25-9 during that span.

Chicago Blackhawks at Carolina Hurricanes (7 p.m. ET; BSSO, NBCSCH, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)

Goalie Frederik Andersen’s six-game winning streak is third-best in Hurricanes/Hartford Whalers history (Cam Ward, nine, 2008-09; Martin Gerber, seven, 2005-06). Should the Hurricanes rest Andersen in the second game of a back-to-back, Raanta would make his Hurricanes debut. He spent the past four seasons with the Coyotes and was 5-5-2 with a 3.36 GAA and .905 save percentage in 12 games (11 starts) last season.

Anaheim Ducks at Vegas Golden Knights (8 p.m. ET; ATTSN-RM, BSW, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)

The Golden Knights have won 17 games against the Ducks, more than they have against any other opponent, and are 8-2-0 against them at T-Mobile Arena. Vegas has won two straight after a 1-4-0 start. Anaheim is 0-3-2 in its past five. Ducks captain Ryan Getzlaf has scored 987 points (279 goals, 708 assists), one shy of Teemu Selanne’s Anaheim record and 13 from 1,000. Forward Troy Terry has scored eight points (three goals, five assists) during a six-game point streak.

Ottawa Senators at Dallas Stars (8:30 p.m. ET; BSSW+, TSN5, RDS2, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)

The Senators defeated the Stars 3-2 on Oct. 17, when forward Chris Tierney scored two power-play goals at Ottawa on Oct. 17. The Senators have lost three in a row since; the Stars have gone 2-1-1. Ottawa hasn’t played since a 7-5 loss to Washington on Monday. The Stars also are coming off a loss, 3-2 in overtime against the Golden Knights on Wednesday, but coach Rick Bowness called the Vegas game probably the best his team has played