Game Preview: Islanders vs. Blackhawks

New York Islanders vs. Chicago Blackhawks

"It seems like we're in the game after the second period and going into the third we just find a way to lose games," Jaroslav Halak said after Tuesday's 4-2 loss to Washington. "That's the bottom line, everyone has to come more ready, including myself. We just have to create our own luck, we have to find ways to win games."

Cal Clutterbuck To Play 600th Career Game:

Cal Clutterbuck is set to play in his 600th NHL regular season game on Thursday. Clutterbuck has 178 points (98G, 80A) through 599 games and has played nearly half of his career with the Islanders. The 29-year-old has played 253 games over four seasons with the Islanders and is set to wear blue and orange for five more seasons, signing a five-year extension on Friday.

Odds and Ends:

The Islanders are 2-0-0 against the Central Division this season… John Tavares' five-game point streak ended on Tuesday night… The Islanders lead the NHL with 543 blocked shots… The Islanders have the NHL's 29th-ranked power play (12.7%) and 17th ranked penalty kill (81.4%).

Chicago Blackhawks Rolling Along Despite Injuries:

Key injuries haven't slowed down the Chicago Blackhawks this season, as they sit atop the Western Conference and continue to be one of the top teams in the league this season.
Chicago went 5-2-2 without captain and all-star Jonathan Toews - who returned on Tuesday against the New York Rangers - and is 3-2-1 without goalie Corey Crawford, who had an emergency appendectomy on Dec. 3.
Goalie Scott Darling has filled in well for Crawford, allowing five goals over the past five games, mixing in a shutout over the Arizona Coyotes. Without Toews, Chicago received consistent offensive contributions from leading scorer Patrick Kane, as well as his linemates Artem Anisimov and Artemi Panarin, who are tied for second in team scoring.

"They're a very proven team with some of the best players in the game at all positions," John Tavares said. "They have a standard and template they follow year in and year out in the way they are successful over a long season. They just play a consistent game and do a lot of good things in their own end, which leads to them playing with the puck which is a lot of their strength."
Chicago is getting a bounce-back year from Marian Hossa, who leads the team with 15 goals, as well as offense from Duncan Keith, whose 18 assists are third among NHL d-men. The objective against a team with all-stars playing every other shift, make them play defense.
"We just have to make it tough on them and make their top players defend and use their energy trying to get the puck instead of making plays with it," Tavares said. "It's a good challenge."
The Islanders haven't seen the Blackhawks since playing a home-and-home to start their season last year.