Chicago @ Boston preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 28, 2019 ) Chicago 2, Boston 8

The Boston Bruins have gone nearly a month without losing in regulation and will put myriad streaks on the line when they host the skidding Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday night. The only team not to lose in regulation at home (12-0-4), the Bruins are riding an eight-game winning streak and have earned points in their last 12 contests (9-0-3).

Boston improved to 3-0-0 on its five-game homestand by scoring a pair of late goals in a 2-0 win over Carolina on Tuesday, giving the team a league-best plus-19 goal differential in the third period. “It shows that we’re conditioned, and we have will. We know how to play when the game is on the line," coach Bruce Cassidy said. “It’s the sign of a good team." The Blackhawks have been outscored 16-5 during a three-game slide and are 1-5-1 over their last seven, a stretch in which every opponent made the playoffs last season. "We know we have to be better at the end of the day," rookie Kirby Dach said. "With the leadership group we have ... I'm confident in them and our coaching staff to help us, especially me, get through this."

TV: 7 p.m. ET, TVAS, Sportsnet East/Ontario/Pacific, NBCS Chicago, NESN (Boston)

ABOUT THE BLACKHAWKS (10-12-5): Chicago received a scare when star forward Patrick Kane, who had a 15-game point streak halted Monday, was knocked woozy Wednesday after taking an inadvertent elbow to the face, but he is fine. Defenseman Duncan Keith and Andrew Shaw remained away from practice but Dylan Strome and Drake Caggiula -- both in the concussion protocol -- will travel with the team to Boston. Caggiula told reporters he will not play against the Bruins but is hopeful of returning at New Jersey on Friday.

ABOUT THE BRUINS (20-3-5): With No. 1 center Patrice Bergeron set to sit out for the eighth time in 10 games, Cassidy changed up his top two lines Tuesday and stuck with that alignment at Wednesday's practice. Charlie Coyle centered a line of Brad Marchand and Danton Heinen while David Krejci was flanked by Jake DeBrusk and David Pastrnak, the league's leading scorer with 25 goals. Coyle responded to the move by scoring the deciding goal while unleashing six shots on net to go along with two hits and two blocked shots.

OVERTIME

1. Boston G Tuukka Rask has won six straight starts and is 6-2-1 with a 2.42 goals-against average versus Chicago. .

2. Blackhawks D Olli Maatta (flu-like symptoms) missed practice Wednesday but is expected to play against the Bruins.

3. Boston has surrendered two goals or fewer in nine of the past 10 games.

PREDICTION: Bruins 4, Blackhawks 2