The Islanders (11-12-5) face off against the Chicago Blackhawks (19-8-4) in Brooklyn on Thursday.

According to STATS:

• The Blackhawks beat the Rangers, 2-1, in New York on Tuesday, four days after losing to them in Chicago. Since Corey Crawford was placed on the DL with appendicitis, the Blackhawks have allowed an average of 1.3 goals per game with Scott Darling in net.
• The Islanders lost to the Capitals on Tuesday, 4-2, at home, their second straight loss following a six-game point streak. New York has just three power-play goals since November 23, tied for the fewest in the league. The Islanders have also had just 24 power play opportunities in that span, tied with the Kings for the fewest in the league.

NEW YORK -- It is not even Christmas yet, and the New York Islanders season is already on the brink. Head coach Jack Capuano is definitely out of patience with his underachieving team.

The Islanders will look to begin their long-shot climb back into the Eastern Conference playoff race Thursday night, when they host the Western Conference-leading Chicago Blackhawks at Barclays Center.

The Blackhawks began a three-game road trip Tuesday with a 2-1 win over the New York Rangers. The Islanders continued skidding Tuesday, when they gave up a pair of third-period goals in a 4-2 loss to the Washington Capitals.

The Devils (10-7-5) travel to Chicago to take on the Blackhawks (15-6-3) on Thursday night. 

According to STATS:

• The Devils fell to the Jets, 3-2, in Winnipeg on Tuesday, their third straight loss and sixth in the last seven games. Those seven followed a five-game winning streak that saw them allow two or fewer goals in each game. In their last seven, the Devils have allowed at least three goals in every game.
• The Blackhawks beat the Panthers, 2-1, in a shootout in Chicago on Tuesday, giving them a four-point lead over St. Louis in the Central Division and atop the Western Conference. They also improved to 6-0-3 in games that go to overtime, tied for the most wins in the league.

CHICAGO -- The Chicago Blackhawks are once again starting to re-establish their footing within the cozy home confines of the United Center. The New Jersey Devils, on the other hand, are struggling to establish theirs on the road.

The Devils have dropped five straight games away from home after Tuesday night's 3-2 loss to the Jets in Winnipeg. It's a streak they hope to snap on Thursday night when they face the Blackhawks in Chicago's second straight home game following two weeks on the road.

New Jersey (10-7-5) couldn't bounce back from a two-goal deficit against the Jets, which added to the Devils' traveling woes. Despite Miles Wood scoring his first NHL goal and fellow rookie Nick Lappin adding another, New Jersey came up short and dropped to 3-7-3 on the road this season.

First Period

• 15:32 NJD P.A. Parenteau (Power Play); Assists: Devante Smith-Pelly, Yohann Auvitu

Second Period 

• 6:48 CHI Artemi Panarin (Power Play); Assists: Patrick Kane, Brent Seabrook

Third Period

The Devils host the Blackhawks on Friday night. According to STATS...

The Islanders defeated the Blackhawks 3-2, which is the same score that they beat Chicago during their last visit to Nassau Coliseum during the 2013-14 season. Even more coincidental is the fact that, like last year's battle at the Coliseum, Kyle Okposo played a big role in an Islanders' comeback.

Okposo's power play goal at 10:10 of the third period tied the game up at two, which set up Lubomir Visnovsky to play hero 51 seconds later.

at

Nassau Coliseum -- Uniondale, NY

TV: MSG Plus Radio: WRHU 88.7 FM, WRCN 103.9 FM

New Jersey Devils at Chicago Blackhawks - 8:00 pm

United Center, Chicago, Illinois

TV:?MSG+ 2 ?Radio:?WCBS 880-AM

Three Stanley Cups, four Vezina Trophies, five Jennings Trophies, plus a slew of awards and accomplishments have helped cement Martin Brodeur as one of the NHL's all-time greatest goaltenders.

But four years ago today, Brodeur staked a claim to No. 1.

Scoring Summary:

First Period- Sykora (18)