By Ben Meyer-Abbott bmeyer-abbott@suntimes.com
Twitter: @BMACST
Center Dave Bolland returns to the lineup Saturday for the Blackhawks.
Joel Quenneville made the announcement talking to reporters ahead of the Blackhawks home-opener Saturday night at the United Center against the Dallas Stars and said he is eager to utilizing the center in his customary role of dogging the other team’s top players.
“He fills that role of playing against the other team’s top line and having home-ice you can probably have an easier time trying to get that matchup,” Quenneville said.
Bolland, who had been out with an undisclosed upper body injury, will center the Hawks’ third line with Michael Frolik and Bryan Bickell.
Quenneville is hopeful the pairing can reignite the chemistry they found during the Hawks’ first-round playoff series against the Vancouver Canucks.
“They seemed to play well last year at the end and didn’t get much of a chance to see them all together in camp, but were looking forward to getting that going again tonight,” Quenneville said.
Sami Lepisto is expected to be scratched to make room for Bolland in the lineup after the Hawks dressed seven defensemen in a 2-1 loss Friday to the Stars in the season opener.
