Devils @ Blackhawks

Who will WIN this matchup?

New Jersey Devils (21-27-8)

@ Chicago Blackhawks (23-25-9)

Starting Goalies:

Cory Schneider (NJ): Confirmed

Cam Ward (CHI): Confirmed

Current odds:

New Jersey Devils: (+135)

Chicago Blackhawks: (-155)

• The Chicago Blackhawks saw their season-high seven-game winning streak come to a close in their last outing, but that doesn’t mean that some of their red-hot stars cooled off in the process. Patrick Kane, Alex DeBrincat and rest of the Blackhawks look to get their team back on track Thursday when they host the New Jersey Devils. Kane extended his point streak to 15 games (11 goals, 21 assists) and tied Hall of Famer Stan Mikita for the franchise record with 14 straight contests with an assist after setting up defenseman Erik Gustafsson’s goal in Tuesday’s 6-3 setback to Boston. DeBrincat scored his career-high 29th goal on Tuesday to increase his point streak to nine games (six goals, 10 assists), a stretch that began after he was held off the scoresheet in an 8-5 setback in New Jersey on Jan. 14.

• Kyle Palmieri (team-leading 24 goals, 42 points) joined Blake Coleman in tallying twice in that contest before seeing his cellar-dwelling club lose eight of its next 11 (3-7-1) — including Tuesday’s 8-3 shellacking in St. Louis. “We were just disconnected,” Devils coach John Hynes said. “We’ve got to find a way to get more connected for the Chicago game (Thursday). It wasn’t very good in any facet.

• Traditionally mild-mannered goaltender Keith Kinkaid let his emotions boil over when he slammed his stick on the crossbar after allowing the fifth of his career-high eight goals on Tuesday. “We weren’t helping him out,” Devils captain Andy Greene said, per NorthJersey.com. “We were getting beat to the middle there too many times and giving up too many odd-man rushes. When he’s got to sit there under siege the whole time, I’d be frustrated too.” Cory Schneider will bid for his first win since Dec. 27, 2017, on Thursday when he draws the start in the second contest of the Devils’ three-game road trip.

• As one might expect, DeBrincat’s fellow linemates are flourishing as rookie Dominik Kahun recorded four multi-point performance in his last five outings on Tuesday and Dylan Strome pushed his point total to 17 (four goals, 13 assists) in his last 10 games. While Kahun and Strome have promising futures, four-time Stanley Cup champion Chris Kunitz has enjoyed many special moments during his career and likely will have yet another to savor on Thursday when the undrafted forward plays in his 1,000th NHL game. “Playing 1,000 games, it’s certainly not something you think about when you’re starting out,” the 39-year-old Kunitz said. “But I’ve been fortunate to play with great organizations and great players. (Sidney) Crosby and Evgeni Malkin in Pittsburgh. Kane and Jonathan Toews here. Among others.”

• New Jersey C Nico Hischier has eight points (three goals, five assists) in his last seven games.

• Kane, who leads Chicago in goals (33) and assists (49), had two of each in the previous meeting with the Devils.

• Coleman, who was a late scratch for Tuesday’s tilt, is considered day-to-day with an upper-body injury.