Buffalo @ Chicago preview

Last Meeting ( Feb 1, 2019 ) Chicago 7, Buffalo 3

The Chicago Blackhawks and Buffalo Sabres have seen their playoff hopes slip away over the past two weeks, dimmed by a stretch in which each club lost four of five games. The Blackhawks have dominated the series with Buffalo, winning 13 of 14, and will go for their ninth straight home victory over the Sabres on Thursday night.

Chicago was outscored 11-5 in the final two contests of its three-game California road trip and has surrendered at least four goals in seven of its last eight. "I think we are still in this thing," forward Dylan Strome said. "We have to string a couple of games in a row." Buffalo has been in a tailspin since a 10-game winning streak in November and lost for the eighth time in 10 games (1-7-2) in Monday's 4-1 setback to visiting Edmonton. The Sabres, who have not posted back-to-back victories since Dec. 11-13, have not won in the Windy City in more than 12 years dating to January 2007.

TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, MSG-Buffalo, NBCS Chicago

ABOUT THE SABRES (30-28-8): Captain Jack Eichel scored twice in the marquee matchup against Connor McDavid and Edmonton to give him six goals in his last five games and 25 on the season -- matching his season high from 2017-18. "I probably haven't been the most consistent scorer this year," Eichel said of his recent binge. "I think I've probably passed up too many opportunities to shoot the puck at times. Eichel, who has scored at least 24 goals in each of his first four seasons, had a goal in a 7-3 loss to Chicago on Feb. 1.

ABOUT THE BLACKHAWKS (27-30-9): Buffalo native Patrick Kane has been held off the scoresheet in each of the last two losses, the first time the league's second-leading scorer has not recorded a point in back-to-back games since Nov. 21-23. "We need (our top lines) to produce and when they don't it's hard for us to win," coach Jeremy Colliton said. "We welcome secondary scoring and positive shifts and playing in the offensive zone from the other lines. Forward David Kampf could return Thursday after missing the past month with a foot injury.

OVERTIME

1. Blackhawks rookie D Erik Gustafsson scored Sunday to give him 14 points in his last 11 games.

2. Sabres F Jeff Skinner has not scored in nine straight games to remain one shy of his career high of 37 goals.

3. Kane and F Brandon Saad each scored two goals in Chicago's rout of Buffalo last month.

PREDICTION: Blackhawks 4, Sabres 3