Bolland boffo against Canucks
The Hockey Night in Canada cameras were waiting for Dave Bolland after Saturday's 4-2 Blackhawks win at GM Place in Vancouver.
Again.
"You're becoming a regular here," postgame interviewer Scott Oake joked. "We'll have to get you co-host pay."
Bolland is having a huge Western Conference semifinal series for the Hawks, who can close out the Canucks tonight with a win in Game 6 at the United Center.
Bolland scored a key short-handed goal in Game 2 late in the second period that snapped a 2-2 tie, sending the Hawks on their way to a 6-3 win.
It was Bolland's turnaround slap shot that Andrew Ladd tipped past Roberto Luongo in overtime to win Game 4.
Then on Saturday, Bolland scored what proved to be the game-winning goal on a power play with 5:05 left in regulation.
"The series is going well for me," Bolland said. "I just have to keep it going."
On Saturday's winner, Bolland was alone in the left circle when Patrick Kane found him with the net open coming out of a crowd.
Bolland took an extra split second to make sure he had the puck on his stick before firing it into the open net with Luongo down and out.
"I didn't want to mishandle it there," Bolland said.
"He was waiting a little and I was saying, 'Just shoot. Shoot it,' " Kane said.
More Big Buff: There was a great headline on the back page of Sunday's Vancouver Province: Buffy the Luongo slayer.
Dustin Byfuglien continued to dominate the series for the Hawks with 2 goals in Saturday's Game 5 win.
"He's having a great series, a great playoff," Hawks coach Joel Quenneville said. "He's playing his best hockey. He's been a force out there."
Byfuglien is having the time of his life causing havoc all over the ice, particularly in front of Roberto Luongo.
"I'm just trying to work hard and go to the net and get pucks to the net," Byfuglien said.
Down the road: The International Ice Hockey Federation announced Sunday the Hawks would play the European champion Zurich Lions on Sept. 29 in Switzerland as part of the Victoria Cup tournament.
The Hawks will be in Europe preparing for their two games against the Florida Panthers on Oct. 3-4 in Helsinki to open the NHL season.
"Our dream is to have the Stanley Cup champions play in the Victoria Cup," IIHF president Rene Fasel said. "I hope Chicago wins the Cup this year."
Tip-ins: Neither team practiced Sunday after staying over Saturday night in Vancouver. ... Defenseman Sami Salo played more than 20 minutes in his return to the Canucks' lineup in Game 5. ... Dustin Byfuglien led the Hawks with 6 hits, while Troy Brouwer had 4.