The Winnipeg Jets host the Anaheim Ducks tonight at Canada Life Centre in a matchup featuring two teams that have made encouraging starts to the new NHL season.
For Winnipeg, most of the attention will once again be on Kyle Connor.
The Jets star has opened the 2026-27 season in outstanding form, scoring five goals through his first four games. After another big performance against Colorado, Connor now has an opportunity to climb even higher in the Winnipeg franchise record books when the Ducks come to town.
But Anaheim has shown enough early in the season to suggest that this will not necessarily be an easy night for Winnipeg.
Here is what to watch in the Ducks vs Jets matchup, including the players who could make the difference and which team appears to have the edge.
The Anaheim Ducks vs Winnipeg Jets game takes place Friday, October 9 at 8 p.m. ET, or 7 p.m. CT in Winnipeg.
The game will be played at Canada Life Centre, where the Jets will look to extend an impressive opening stretch that has seen them collect points in each of their first four games.
Winnipeg enters the matchup with a 3-0-1 record.
Kyle Connor has wasted very little time finding his scoring touch this season.
The Winnipeg winger has scored five times in four games, including two goals in the Jets’ most recent 3-2 victory over the Colorado Avalanche.
His second goal against Colorado came with just one minute remaining in the third period, giving Winnipeg the win.
Connor now has 328 career goals for the Jets/Thrashers franchise, putting him level with Ilya Kovalchuk for third place on the franchise’s all-time list.
One goal against Anaheim would move Connor into sole possession of third place.
That gives Friday night’s game an extra storyline.
Connor is not simply trying to extend his excellent start. He has a chance to reach another significant milestone in front of the Winnipeg crowd.
Connor is receiving most of the attention, but Winnipeg’s top line has been producing from several directions.
Mark Scheifele, Connor and Cole Perfetti were heavily involved against Colorado.
Perfetti scored against the Avalanche and has now found the net in three consecutive games, while Scheifele recorded two assists in the 3-2 victory.
That combination gives Anaheim a difficult decision.
Focus too heavily on Connor and Winnipeg has other players capable of creating chances. Give Connor too much room and one of the league’s most dangerous finishers can punish the Ducks quickly.
The chemistry between Scheifele and Connor remains especially important. Their late connection produced the winning goal against Colorado and continues to be one of Winnipeg’s biggest offensive weapons.
Winnipeg’s strong start has not only been about scoring.
Stuart Skinner made 32 saves against Colorado, keeping the Jets in the game during periods when the Avalanche controlled much of the play.
That performance should give Winnipeg confidence heading into Friday.
Anaheim has enough young attacking talent to cause problems, particularly if the Ducks can generate power-play opportunities. Winnipeg may once again need its goaltender to make several important saves.
If Skinner can reproduce his performance against Colorado, the Jets will be difficult to beat.
The Ducks arrive in Winnipeg after suffering their first loss of the season, a 5-2 defeat against the Edmonton Oilers.
Anaheim actually took a 2-0 lead before Edmonton exploded for five goals in the second period.
Despite the defeat, Leo Carlsson remains one of the biggest threats in the Ducks lineup.
Carlsson recorded two assists against Edmonton and also played a major role in Anaheim’s earlier overtime victory against Florida, setting up Mikael Granlund’s winning goal.
His combination of size, skill and playmaking makes him a player Winnipeg cannot afford to ignore.
If the Jets give Anaheim too much space through the middle of the ice, Carlsson has the ability to create chances for himself and his teammates.
Carlsson is not the only young Duck to watch.
Beckett Sennecke scored both of Anaheim’s goals against Edmonton, with both coming on the power play.
The Ducks have therefore shown that they can punish opponents when given opportunities with the man advantage.
Winnipeg will want to stay disciplined.
Giving Carlsson, Sennecke and the rest of Anaheim’s young forwards repeated power-play chances could turn what appears to be a favourable matchup for Winnipeg into a much more difficult game.
This could be the biggest question of the night.
Connor enters Friday playing with confidence, and he has already shown that he does not need many opportunities to change a game.
Anaheim cannot simply allow him to find space around the faceoff circles or lose track of him during Winnipeg’s transitions.
The Ducks will need to pressure Winnipeg’s puck carriers early and make it more difficult for Scheifele to find Connor in scoring areas.
That is easier said than done.
Winnipeg’s top line has already produced several important moments this season, and Connor currently looks capable of scoring almost every night.
The Jets do not need to dramatically change what has worked during their 3-0-1 start.
They need to keep the game controlled, avoid unnecessary penalties and allow their top forwards to create opportunities.
Winnipeg should also look to test Anaheim’s defensive structure after the Ducks allowed Edmonton to score five times in one period during their last game.
If Winnipeg can establish sustained pressure and force Anaheim to defend for long stretches, the Jets should eventually create quality scoring opportunities.
Anaheim’s path to victory probably begins with limiting Winnipeg’s top line.
The Ducks also need to reproduce the aggressive start they showed against Edmonton.
Anaheim led that game 2-0 after the opening period before losing control in the second. That shows the Ducks can start quickly against strong opponents, but maintaining that level over 60 minutes remains important.
Special teams could also be crucial.
Anaheim’s two goals against Edmonton both came on the power play, while the Ducks also scored all three of their goals with the man advantage during their 3-2 overtime victory against Florida.
If Winnipeg spends too much time in the penalty box, Anaheim has the weapons to take advantage.
Connor is the obvious player to watch.
Five goals in four games have made him one of the hottest scorers in hockey, and one more would move him into sole possession of third place on Winnipeg’s franchise goals list.
Skinner was excellent against Colorado and may once again need to make important saves if Anaheim’s young forwards generate chances.
Carlsson’s playmaking has already been important for Anaheim this season. Winnipeg will need to prevent him from creating opportunities through the middle.
After scoring twice against Edmonton, Sennecke enters the game as another dangerous young forward capable of making Winnipeg pay, particularly on the power play.
Anaheim has enough offensive talent to make this competitive, and its power play could cause problems if Winnipeg becomes undisciplined.
However, the Jets appear to have the advantage entering Friday night’s game.
Winnipeg is 3-0-1, Connor is scoring at an elite rate, Perfetti is finding the net consistently and Skinner is coming off an impressive performance against Colorado.
Home ice also works in Winnipeg’s favour.
Anaheim should create chances, particularly through Carlsson and Sennecke, but the Jets currently look like the more complete team.
Prediction: Winnipeg Jets to win a close game.
And with the form Kyle Connor is currently showing, another goal would hardly be a surprise.
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