• Preview
• Bleachers

Surging Devils meet slumping Blackhawks

Nov 9, 2006 - 2:13 PM Chicago (4-0-0) at New Jersey (8-5-1) 7:30 pm EST

EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey (Ticker) - Thursday's game between the Chicago Blackhawks and the New Jersey Devils is a tale of two clubs going in opposite directions.

The Devils have been solid in winning four of their last five.

New Jersey is coming off a 3-2 shootout victory over the Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday, and got some revenge on the club that eliminated it from last spring's playoffs.

John Madden won the game for the Devils when he scored in the sixth round of the shootout. Travis Zajac and Jim Dowd scored for New Jersey in regulation.

The Blackhawks have continued to struggle in losing seven straight, including a 2-1 setback to the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday.

A lack of offense has been a huge problem for Chicago, which has scored three goals in its last five games. The Blackhawks managed only Rene Bourque's tally in the first period against Detroit.