The Chicago Blackhawks just couldn’t beat Kari Lehtonen on Friday, as the Dallas Stars looked impressive in a 2-1 win. The teams shift back to Chicago tonight, but the Blackhawks’ best news is that Dave Bolland is expected to return, according to Tracey Myers of CSNChicago.com.
Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, Marian Hossa and Patrick Sharp are the team’s biggest stars, but Bolland is their wild card.
The Blackhawks almost jumped out of an 0-3 first round hole against the Vancouver Canucks once Bolland hopped back into the lineup. Sure, it wasn’t all about Bolland, but few players get under the skin of stars quite like him. (When you make one of the Sedin twins and Joe Thornton snap in the same playoff run, you’ve accomplished something.)
It doesn’t sound like this will bump Kane out of his experimental center spot, which means that Bolland should take an appropriate third line role. Kane seemed solid last night, as he won most of his faceoffs and fired five shots on goal. Bolland should make things that much easier for his Blackhawks teammates and life a lot harder for the Stars’ best players. (He might want to stay away from Jamie Benn, though.)
Anyway, here’s video of Daniel Sedin “attacking” Bolland, for your giggling pleasure: