Bolland's return a key for Hawks, too

It's obvious how much the Blackhawks missed Jonathan Toews when he was sidelined by a sprained knee.

But being without Dave Bolland for 20 games with a broken finger didn't help their cause either.

When Bolland returned Wednesday at Columbus, one game after Toews made his way back, it put two of the Hawks' top three centers back in the mix and allowed players who might have been playing out of their roles to return to where they belonged.

That meant Patrick Sharp could go back to wing, where he is most comfortable, and Rene Bourque could slide back down to the third line.

"That's huge because if you bring a third-line player to the top line, it's asking a lot from a player," Hawks coach Denis Savard said. "Bourque, who I admire and who has done a good job going to the net for us, he fits as a third-line player. When you have to move up to the top line it's a lot to ask, not that he can't do it. He might do it for a short period of time. And he knows it's not his role.

"Now we have everyone slotted where we want them and it's paying dividends, no question."

Bolland was developing into a dependable third-line center when he broke a finger Dec. 23 against Edmonton. He stepped back into the lineup last week and had a big game with 2 assists in Thursday's 6-1 victory at Nashville.

The Hawks see Bolland as a potential No. 2 center behind Toews down the road.

"You get 10-15 pounds on him, which we hope we do over the summer, and he won't be far behind Toews," said Savard. "He's a smart player, he's gritty and he's got vision."

Getting Toews and Bolland back at almost the same time is working out how Savard thought it would.

"I'm not surprised and we're not going to use it as an excuse, but these two kids are special," Savard said. "They bring work ethic and skill to the lineup with grit -- and you've got to have it to win at this level."

The 21-year-old Bolland is confident he has figured out how to be successful at the NHL level. Bolland was one of the top players coming out of junior hockey in 2006, two years after the Hawks made him the 32nd pick in the draft.

"I'm a lot more confident now," Bolland said. "When I came up last year and played in my first game, I was a little dumbfounded. I just thought it was going to be another game, but the speed and size, everything, I sort of realized what I needed to do to play at this level. I came in this year a lot more stronger and ready to go, to play at this level and accomplish some things."

Bolland scored 130 points in 59 games with the London Knights in 2005-06, adding 24 more in 15 playoff games. He believes he eventually will be able to put up good offensive numbers in the NHL.

"It's a transition, the same as it was in juniors," Bolland said. "My first year I got 17 points and it kept gradually going up.

"For me right now it's just getting myself stable here. I want to be able to play at this level. I'm playing on the third line right now and I want to do anything I can to establish myself on the highest level I can. Eventually the points will come."

Today's faceoff

Blackhawks vs. Colorado Avalanche at the United Center, noon

TV: None

Radio: WSCR 670-AM

The skinny: The Hawks are 7 points behind the Avalanche and need this game badly. It's the first game back at the United Center for the Hawks since Jan. 24, when they laid an egg in a 1-0 loss to Columbus and got ripped by coach Denis Savard. The Hawks won three of the final four games on their seven-game road trip, accumulating 7 of a possible 8 points. The Avs are coming off a 4-1 loss to St. Louis on Thursday when they welcomed back winger Ryan Smyth, who missed 18 games with a broken ankle.

Player to watch: Patrick Lalime. Hawks' backup goalie gets another start with Nikolai Khabibulin still nursing a knee sprain.

Next game: St. Louis Blues, Tuesday at Scottrade Center, 7 p.m.

-- Tim Sassone