Sharks at Blackhawks
While qualifying for the postseason has become a longshot, the Chicago Blackhawks hope to conclude their five-game homestand on a winning note when they host the San Jose Sharks on Friday. Chicago, which hasn't missed the playoffs since 2007-08, has a double-digit deficit to make up for a wild-card spot in the Western Conference.
The Blackhawks are 2-2-0 on their homestand after Nick Schmaltz scored in the seventh round of the shootout on Wednesday to give them a 3-2 victory over Ottawa. San Jose is looking to bounce back from a brutal 7-1 loss at Nashville on Thursday that ended its three-game overall winning streak and dropped it to 1-1-0 on its four-game road trip. Logan Couture scored the lone goal to increase his team-leading total to 25 and match his total from last season as the Sharks remained 10 points behind first-place Vegas in the Pacific Division. Defenseman Brent Burns leads the team with 50 points but has been kept off the scoresheet in three straight games and five of his last seven.
TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, NBCS California (San Jose), WGN (Chicago)
ABOUT THE SHARKS (33-20-8): Eric Fehr made his team debut against the Predators after being acquired from Toronto two days earlier and registered one shot in just over 12 minutes of ice time. The 32-year-old former first-round pick of Washington, who failed to record a point in four games with the Maple Leafs in October, is one assist shy of 100 for his career. Tomas Hertl returned to the lineup Thursday after missing three games with an upper-body injury and recorded a team high-tying six shots in 21:04 of action.
ABOUT THE BLACKHAWKS (26-27-8): Patrick Kane recorded his 23rd goal of the season on Wednesday to move one ahead of rookie Alex DeBrincat for the team lead. The 29-year-old Kane has tallied twice in his last three games after scoring just once over his previous 12 contests. DeBrincat ranks tied for second among NHL rookies in goals, trailing only Brock Boeser of Vancouver (27).
OVERTIME
1. The Blackhawks have won two of three after beginning the month with an eight-game slide (0-7-1).
2. The Sharks assigned C Danny O'Regan to San Jose of the American Hockey League prior to Thursday's contest.
3. Chicago's Joel Quenneville is eight away from passing Al Arbour (1,607) for second place on the all-time list of games coached in the NHL.