New Jersey @ Chicago preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 6, 2019 ) Chicago 2, New Jersey 1

The New Jersey Devils and Chicago Blackhawks each reside in last place in their respective divisions, but the outlook for both teams is decidedly different entering the final game before the Christmas break. Winners of two straight and three of four, the Blackhawks return home to take on the skidding New Jersey Devils on Monday night.

Chicago remains in striking distance of the contenders in the Central after posting impressive back-to-back road wins at division rivals Winnipeg and Colorado. "We didn't panic and were patient," defenseman Duncan Keith said after the Blackhawks erupted for four third-period goals in Saturday's 5-3 win against the Avalanche. "Sometimes it's not always going to happen. ... That's a start and we can keep building off this." The Devils do not have much to build off after trading away star forward Taylor Hall and have dropped nine of 11 (2-8-1) after losing their last two. Thursday's 5-1 loss versus Columbus dropped New Jersey to 6-11-0 away from home and spoiled the first NHL start for netminder Gilles Senn.

TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, MSG-Plus2 (New Jersey), NBCS Chicago

ABOUT THE DEVILS (11-19-5): Dealing away former league MVP Hall put even more pressure on an offensively challenged lineup that has produced more than three goals only once in the past 11 games. "We don't have an attacking mentality enough, passing up shots," interim coach Alaine Nasreddine said. "To score goals in this league you have to be hungry, you've got to be willing to get to the net, you've got to be able to get to the hard areas." Pavel Zacha has not scored in 24 games and has one goal in seven games versus Chicago.

ABOUT THE BLACKHAWKS (15-16-6): Rookie Kirby Dach, the third overall pick in this year's draft, snapped a 16-game goal-less drought by registering the tying tally in the comeback against the Avalanche on Saturday. "The puck is going to find your stick and go in," Dach said. "It might not be the prettiest goal or the prettiest assist, but eventually you're going to find a way to get off that." Such slumps are foreign for Patrick Kane, who became the 12th player in league history with at least 20 goals in his first 13 seasons.

OVERTIME

1. Kane has six goals in his last five games and 21 points in 19 meetings versus New Jersey.

2. Devils G Mackenzie Blackwood is 1-0-1 with six goals allowed against Chicago.

3. The Blackhawks recalled F John Quenneville from Rockford of the American Hockey League.

PREDICTION: Blackhawks 4, Devils 2