Blackhawks at Rangers
It's been a tough season for Original Six rivals New York and Chicago, who are both well out of playoff contention as they labor through rebuilding seasons. The Blackhawks are buried at the bottom of the Central Division and mired in a four-game losing streak (0-2-2) entering a matchup against the Rangers at Madison Square Garden on Thursday night.
Chicago lost for the sixth time in seven games with an 8-5 drubbing at New Jersey, which matched its season high for goals allowed. "It wasn't the game we wanted, but no point dwelling on it," Blackhawks coach Jeremy Colliton said at Wednesday's practice. "Part of that is the energy, the enthusiasm, the compete and battle level. That's what we're missing, so let's bring that tomorrow." The Rangers also had lost six of seven (1-6-0) while allowing 34 goals before ending their frustrations with a 6-2 victory over visiting Carolina on Tuesday. "We have to keep building off this," New York defenseman Brady Skjei said. "One game is not going to change the season."
TV: 7 p.m. ET, NBC Sports Network, NBCS Chicago, MSG (New York)
ABOUT THE BLACKHAWKS (16-23-9): Center Dylan Strome, acquired in a trade with Arizona earlier this season, collected an assist on one of Patrick Kane's two goals Monday but he has a different focus Thursday: winning for the first time in four matchups against his older brother. “There’s that little bit of bragging rights, and he’s 3-0 against me, so I owe him one,” Dylan said of the facing Rangers center Ryan Strome. “I want him to do well every night except Thursday.” All-Star Kane had his fifth consecutive multiple-point game Monday and is on a tear with 10 goals and 20 points over the past nine contests.
ABOUT THE RANGERS (19-20-7): Ryan Strome has plenty in common with brother Dylan -- not only are both former first-round draft picks, but Ryan also changed addresses in November when New York acquired him from Edmonton. Ryan has registered six goals and 11 points in 27 games with the Rangers while Dylan has been slightly more productive with seven and 15 in 24 contests with Chicago. “You want to succeed, but you’d rather not score on him. It’s a little weird," Ryan said. “Now that he’s thriving, I don’t have as much of a problem going after him. Hopefully I’ll pick his pocket once or twice Thursday.”
OVERTIME
1. Rangers G Henrik Lundqvist is 6-5-2 with a 2.50 goals-against average versus Chicago.
2. Kane scored in a 4-1 win over the Rangers on Oct. 25, giving him five goals and 12 points in 15 games against New York.
3. Rangers F Mats Zuccarello set up three goals Tuesday and has three tallies and three assists during a three-game point streak.