Montador powers up Hawks’ attack
The goals keep coming from Steve Montador.
The defenseman turned power-play specialist scored 2 more goals in Sunday’s 6-3 win over Edmonton, giving him 3 in the last three games.
Two of those goals, including 1 on Sunday, have come on the power play from in front of the net, where coach Joel Quenneville started using him Friday at Columbus.
The coaching staff had a hunch Montador could handle himself in front of the net, and the switch has paid off. The power play now has goals in three straight games.
“I’ve spent enough time in the defensive zone in there, so I guess I should be kind of familiar,” Montador said.
“I just want to take advantage of the opportunities I’m getting. I’m just happy to be contributing.”
Jonathan Toews believes part of Montador’s success in front does come from his experience there on the defensive end.
“He’s not afraid, obviously,” Toews said. “He does a good job boxing guys out on the penalty kill in front of our net. I think he’s used that pretty good on the other side of things. He’s a workhorse. He’s good at getting himself open on offense.”
Bolland to travel:Joel Quenneville said Dave Bolland will be on the six-game road trip that starts Wednesday even though the injured center missed his third straight game Sunday with a sore right foot.#147;Hopefully he gets to play one of the first two games,#148; said Quenneville, who on Friday told reporters Bolland#146;s injury wasn#146;t long term.The Hawks play at Vancouver on Wednesday and at Calgary on Friday in the first two stops on their two-week circus trip.Rookie Marcus Kruger continued to fill in for Bolland as the third-line center.#147;You don#146;t want to lose anybody, but I think Kruger has done a real nice job in (Bolland#146;s) absence,#148; Quenneville said.True or false:The Ottawa Sun reported Sunday that the Buffalo Sabres tried to trade for Patrick Kane last summer.That conversation likely lasted a few seconds.Follow the leader:The young and talented Edmonton Oilers are drawing a lot of comparisons to the Hawks for how they are building an exciting team through the draft.The Oilers had the first pick overall the last two summers and drafted budding stars Taylor Hall and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins.The Hawks were in a similar position several years back and took Jonathan Toews third overall in 2006 and Patrick Kane first in 2007.#147;The Blackhawks are a good team to go by,#148; Nugent-Hopkins told NHL.com. #147;They went through that whole rebuilding stage that Edmonton#146;s been going through.#148;Tip-ins:Hawks great Ed Belfour goes into the Hockey Hall of Fame on Monday along with Doug Gilmour, Mark Howe and Joe Nieywendyk. Belfour#146;s 484 wins rank third all time among goaltenders. #133; Defensemen Sean O#146;Donnell and Sami Lepisto were the healthy scratches for the third game in a row.