Petiot might get a look on defense
While the exhibition games will tell the tale for the Blackhawks, a strong week of scrimmages might have put Richard Petiot at least in the mix for one of the available jobs on defense.
The 6-foot-4, 210-pound Petiot was signed as a free agent out of the Tampa Bay organization, for which he appeared in 11 games last season.
Petiot originally was the 116th player taken in the 2001 entry draft by Los Angeles out of Colorado College.
"A couple guys on defense organizationally give us a little more depth, which is something we were probably a little short on coming in here," coach Joel Quenneville said Thursday. "Petiot is a guy that's new to the organization. At least we've noticed him."
Brent Sopel, Aaron Johnson and Jordan Hendry are the three veterans ahead of Petiot competing for the two available spots on defense.
More scrimmage stuff: The line of Patrick Sharp, Tomas Kopecky and Dustin Byfuglien accounted for 3 goals in Thursday's full-squad scrimmage - all of them when matched against Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook.
"I would just like to point out that Buff, Kopecky and myself got three goals against (Keith and Seabrook) today," Sharp teased.
Joel Quenneville has said he will tinker with line combinations through the preseason.
Jonathan Toews centered for Patrick Kane and Kris Versteeg on Thursday while John Madden skated between Andrew Ladd and Troy Brouwer.
As for defense pairings, it was Keith and Seabrook, Brian Campbell with Niklas Hjalmarsson and Cam Barker with Brent Sopel.
Jake Dowell had his third fight in four scrimmages, dropping the gloves with Kyle Beach in an entertaining scrap that was a draw.
Corey Crawford had a rough start, allowing 2 quick goals and 3 in the one period he worked.
Bolland update: Center Dave Bolland missed his fifth straight day of on-ice work with a sore lower back.
Bolland did skate by himself before the scrimmage.
"He skated for about 15 minutes and hopefully he gets a little more (today)," Joel Quenneville said. "Probably, maybe he can have full contact Saturday morning."
Bolland won't play in games this weekend against Washington and Minnesota.