Chicago @ New Jersey preview

Last Meeting ( Feb 14, 2019 ) New Jersey 2, Chicago 5

There is plenty of turbulence surrounding the New Jersey Devils as they prepare to host the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday in a matchup of last-place clubs. New Jersey has lost three straight after a 4-3 setback to Vegas on Tuesday in Alain Nasreddine's first game as coach while trade rumors continue to swirl around former Hart Trophy winner Taylor Hall.

"It's never a good thing when a coach gets fired, and it's up to us in this room," New Jersey right wing Kyle Palmieri told reporters Tuesday after scoring his team-leading 10th goal - hours after John Hynes was relieved of his duties. "We're the ones who play the games. I think, moving forward, we have to be excited for the opportunity to try and turn our season around." The potentially rough ride could someday move along without Hall, the 2018 league MVP who leads the team with 22 points but has only four goals. Chicago blew a three-goal third-period lead Thursday, but snapped a three-game losing streak and won for the second time in eight contests with a 4-3 victory at Boston on Jonathan Toews' overtime goal. The Blackhawks got a boost from the return of Dylan Strome, who had a goal and an assist after missing the last four games with a concussion.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, NHL Network, NBCS Chicago Plus, MSG Plus (New Jersey)

ABOUT THE BLACKHAWKS (11-12-5): Patrick Kane leads the club with 14 goals and 34 points after recording an assist Thursday - one contest after his 15-game point streak that encompassed November (11 goals, 24 points) was snapped. Alex DeBrincat is next with 20 points after snapping a 12-game goal drought Thursday with his sixth of the season. Corey Crawford will likely be in goal Friday after Robin Lehner recovered from the flu by making 37 saves against Boston.

ABOUT THE DEVILS (9-14-4): New Jersey is struggling in all facets of its game, allowing the fourth-most goals in the league while scoring the second fewest. Jack Hughes (four goals, 11 points), the top pick last June's draft, has missed the last three games with a lower-body injury. Mackenzie Blackwood (8-8-3, 3.17 goals-against average, .896 save percentage) is expected to play after losing four of his last five starts.

OVERTIME

1. Chicago D Olli Maatta missed Thursday's game with the flu.

2. The Devils are 1-for-17 with the man advantage in their last four games and have yielded a power-play goal in each of the last three games.

3. The clubs split a high-scoring two-game series last season with each team totaling 10 goals after New Jersey swept the two meetings in 2017-18 by a combined 11-6.

PREDICTION: Devils 3, Blackhawks 2