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Bolland set to return tonight

With the Blackhawks down to their last gasp, down 3-0 to the Canucks in their first-round playoff series, Dave Bolland is likely to play tonight in Game 4.

The question Hawks coach Joel Quenneville was asked Monday is if it’s wise to throw Bolland back into such a physical series, down 3-0, when he hasn’t played since March 9 because of a concussion.

“I think Bolly is a competitive guy and has been waiting a long time to get back in the lineup,” Quenneville said. “Based on the timing, he’s ready to play and wants to play. You’ve got to like his competitive spirit and I think the bottom line is he’ll do anything he can to be part of the team again.

“He’s had some success against these guys so I think his role and his job description is important. I think he welcomes that opportunity and that challenge and it gets some enthusiasm here in returning to our lineup. I think he’s just happy to play and take advantage of a great challenge.”

Bolland’s defensive work against Henrik and Daniel Sedin was a key to the Hawks beating the Canucks in the last two playoff years.

Henrik Sedin greeted the news of Bolland’s return with a shrug.

“It’s not going to change our approach or anything,” Sedin said. “It’s not about him or anyone on that team. We have to take care of our own game and it will work itself out.”

Meanwhile, Quenneville said he was hopeful Bryan Bickell could return from a wrist injury but that Tomas Kopecky was out again.

Surprise response:

Joel Quenneville surprisingly wasn’t upset with the NHL for not suspending Raffi Torres for the hit on Brent Seabrook.

Quenneville was more angry that referees Brad Watson and Greg Kimmerly failed to hand out a major penalty.

“I’ve got no problem with that as far as how the league views it,” Quenneville said. “That’s their job and they do a good job. They know their standards and criteria. I just think the call on the ice is where we probably got hurt the most, knowing it’s a major penalty because he didn’t touch the puck.

“A hit like that, you can be exposed to severe injuries, and I think that’s the intent of a major call.”

Too late to start?

As one of the Hawks’ forwards, Joanthan Toews knows the group must be harder on Vancouver’s defense than in the first three games.

“We want to be tougher on their defensemen,” Toews said. “They have some skilled defensemen and if you’re tough on them and you’re hard on them, especially in their zone, they won’t want to go near the puck after that.

“Everyone has to bring something now. If you’re a goal scorer you have to score goals and hit and do everything. If you’re a role player you have to find a way to be physical and maybe score a big goal.”