Minnesota @ Chicago preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 18, 2018 ) Minnesota 1, Chicago 3

The Minnesota Wild entered the holiday break on a four-game slide (0-3-1) during which they scored a total of three goals. The Wild hope to break out of their funk when they resume their season Thursday against the host Chicago Blackhawks.

Minnesota has been idle since Saturday, when it dropped a 2-1 overtime decision to Dallas after scoring with 2:03 remaining in the third period to earn its first point in four contests. Jason Zucker tallied against the Stars to end his six-game drought and reach double digits in goals for the fifth consecutive season. Chicago is coming off a 6-3 home setback against Florida on Sunday that halted its season-high three-game winning streak. Dylan Strome ended his three-game point drought in a big way, scoring a goal and setting up two others for his first three-point performance of the campaign and second of his career.

TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, FS North (Minnesota), NBCS Chicago

ABOUT THE WILD (17-15-3): Mikael Granlund leads the team with 34 points after notching an assist - his sixth in as many games - Saturday. The 26-year-old Finn has had difficulty scoring goals, however, as he enters Thursday with a 10-game drought and one tally in his last 18 contests. Zucker's goal against Dallas was his 20th point of the season and left him eight shy of 200 for his career.

ABOUT THE BLACKHAWKS (13-20-6): Alex DeBrincat is riding a three-game goal-scoring streak that has lifted him into a tie with Patrick Kane for the team lead with 17. Kane tops the club with 44 points and enters Thursday with a five-game streak during which he has registered two tallies and five assists. The 30-year-old former Hart and Art Ross Trophy winner has been kept off the scoresheet in consecutive contests only once this season (Nov. 21 and 23) and has collected 19 points in 16 games since.

OVERTIME

1. Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews notched an assist Sunday, leaving him two away from 400 for his career.

2. The Wild rank second in the league on the penalty kill (86.7 percent) and are tied for fourth with five short-handed goals.

3. Chicago has earned three of a possible four points against Minnesota this season, losing in overtime on the road Oct. 11 before posting a 3-1 home victory Nov. 18.

PREDICTION: Blackhawks 3, Wild 2