Blackhawks take on Tavares-led Islanders in Brooklyn

The Blackhawks continue their three-game road trip with a tilt against the New York Islanders on Thursday. Chicago got 33 saves from Scott Darling on Tuesday in another tightly contested game against the Rangers, a 2-1 victory for the visitors. With his performance, Darling has now allowed just three goals over his last four starts, posting a .974 save percentage and 3-0-1 record over that span.
"He's absolutely amazing," Artem Anisimov said about Darling's performances after the game. With a back-to-back on the schedule this upcoming weekend, Thursday's matchup could be the seventh consecutive start for the 27-year-old, although Head Coach Joel Quenneville hasn't indicated his starter with the team having a day off on Wednesday.
The Islanders are looking to snap out of a two-game losing streak after dropping a 4-2 result to Washington on Tuesday. After advancing to the second round of the playoffs last spring, New York has struggled mightily the first two months of this season and find themselves in last place in the Metropolitan Division. Free-agent signing Andrew Ladd hasn't panned out, posting just six points in 28 games, while the goaltending hasn't been a strong point either. However, the team has performed well at Barclays Center, where they've grabbed nine of their 11 wins this year; Tuesday's loss was just their second regulation loss in 12 home games this season.
Chicago won both matchups against the Isles last season with a 7-4 total goal differential. Patrick Kane led the way with five points (3G, 2A), while Artemi Panarin contributed a goal and two assists.

ART OF SCORING
Anisimov's game-winner against his first NHL team was his third goal and fourth point in the last four games, bringing his tally total to 13 on the season; he ranks second on the team with 26 points in 28 games, on pace to surpass his career high of 44 set in 2010-11 with the Rangers. The 28-year-old has now tallied Chicago's last three game-winners, and Tuesday's contribution was his sixth of the season, a career high which also ties him for the league lead alongside Los Angeles forward Jeff Carter.
HERE'S JOHNNY
Isles captain John Tavares has been incredibly productive since entering the league in 2009, finishing with fewer than 66 points in a season just twice-his rookie campaign and the lockout-shortened year. This season has been no different, as the former first-overall pick leads the Islanders with 13 assists and 22 points, including 6 on the power play, in 28 games. Tavares was held off the scoresheet on Tuesday, snapping a five-game point streak (3G, 2A); he has points in eight of his last 10 outings. The 26-year-old has formed a productive line with Brock Nelson and Josh Bailey, and the trio has provided most of team's offense this season, accounting for 29 percent of goals (21 of 72).
ONE GOAL
Tuesday's game marked Chicago's 20th one-goal game of the season, a league high in that category. The Blackhawks have gone 12-4-4 in one-goal games, also pacing the NHL in that regard, a record that's boosted by the team's success in overtime or the shootout, where they've gone 7-4 this season. In contrast, the Islanders have notched a 5-4-4 record in one-goal contests, and are just 3-5 in overtime or the shootout. The Isles have suffered from late goals conceded, allowing a go-ahead goal past the 17-minute mark of the third period five times this season.
NOTABLE ABSENCES
CHI: Corey Crawford (appendix)
NYI: Mikhail Grabovski (concussion), Ryan Pulock (foot), Adam Pelech (upper body)
LINES

Hartman -- Toews -- Hossa
Panarin -- Anisimov -- Kane
Rasmussen -- Kruger -- Panik
Desjardins -- Hinostroza -- Tootoo

Keith -- Hjalmarsson
Campbell -- Seabrook
Kempny -- van Riemsdyk

Darling
Johansson