The New England Revolution have a reason for optimism despite their current standing in the MLS Eastern Conference.

Attacking midfielder Tomas Chancalay is heating up at the right time to prevent the 2024 season from becoming a lost cause before June.

Chancalay has potted goals in consecutive games and looks to extend his scoring streak when the Revolution (2-7-1) engage the New York Red Bulls (4-2-5) on Saturday night (7:30) at Red Bulls Arena in Harrison, N.J.

The Revolution and the Red Bulls are two of the 10 original MLS franchises and they are meeting for the 84th time, with New England up in the series, 35-31-17.

“I feel very good, I’m happy with the goals,” said Chancalay. “They help a lot with my confidence, but like always, even when I wasn’t scoring goals, I try to help the team. Right now, I’m helping with goals, thanks to God, and hopefully I can continue helping the team win games.”

Revolution scored 11 goals in six Concacaf Champions Cup games, with Chancalay as accounting for four of them. But Chancalay’s success scoring goals against teams from Central America did not transition into MLS play.

Chancalay went scoreless in seven straight MLS starts. He ended the drought by producing the Revolution’s lone tally in a 4-1 loss at home against Inter-Miami. Chancalay came through in a big way by scoring the Revolution’s lone goal in a 1-0 victory over Chicago Fire FC on May 4 at Soldier Field, the club’s only road win on the season.

“It’s funny how when you get your first, the floodgates open a bit and the confidence comes,” said Revolution first-year coach Caleb Porter. “I think our whole team is going to be more confident because of the result and the performance.

“We just don’t want to get casual now. It’s important that we keep the knife between our teeth, so to speak. I think his edge has been really good. He’s in a good spot mentally right now, which I like, and he’s got goals.

“I’ve said it from day one, he can score. When he gets around goal, he can score. The rest of the game, he’s learning to be simple, and he’s working very hard as well, defensively, on both sides of the ball.”

The numbers back up Porter’s assessment. The goals would eventually come Chancalay’s way because he plays with a shoot-first mentality. Chancalay ranks fifth in MLS with 43 shots and has 83 since making his MLS debut on Aug. 26, 2023.

Chancalay has logged 8:29 minutes of pitch time, second only to midfielder Carles Gil with 9:00. Chancalay plays on the edge with 14 fouls committed with only four fouls sustained, which is a testament to how quickly he can get the ball off with either foot.

“I think, thanks to God, I’m lucky that I can shoot similarly with both legs,” said Chancalay. “This time (Chicago), I had to shoot with the left. I’m just happy because that goal helped the team win and that’s what is most important.

“We’re very happy. I think it helps change the energy of the team. It’s much easier to build on and work after the wins than the losses. But we have to continue on this path and focus on Red Bull. We’re not done yet. We have to win many more games to reach the goal of making the playoffs.”

The Red Bulls will be a tougher team to both break down and defend than Chicago. The NYRB attack has improved immensely under first-year head coach Sandro Schwarz and the team is undefeated at home with a 2-0-2 mark. The Red Bulls have scored 16 goals in 11 games (1.45 gpg.), with 136 shots and 54 shots on target.

“Red Bull is one of the best teams in the East. They’ve shown that this year and their new coach has done a great job,” said Porter. “They are playing a little bit more than in the past at keeping the ball more, still press really well in the right moments, and they are still disruptive.”

The Red Bulls’ attack is led by Scotsman Lewis Morgan with seven goals, while Dante Vanzeir has six assists. Morgan, an attacking midfielder, leads the Red Bulls in shots (32), shots on goal (17) and game-winning goals (3). NYRB plays with a high degree of aggression, having committed 146 fouls with 21 yellow cards and three red cards.

“We have to be smart in terms of how we play and how we try to build out,” said Porter. “So, that’ll be a big part of our prep this week. But then also, they are going to have some of the ball as well, so that’s a little different than in the past when you play Red Bull.”