Brian and Bryan boost Hawks

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Welcome back, Brian Campbell.

Welcome aboard, Bryan Bickell.

Settle in, fellas, because this Western Conference quarterfinal series might last awhile.

Making their first appearances of the playoffs, Campbell and Bickell provided a spark in the rejuvenated Blackhawks' 3-0 win over the Nashville Predators in Game 4 Thursday night at Bridgestone Arena.

Campbell, returning from a broken collarbone, skated regular shifts on the Hawks blue line, and Bickell had an assist and held his own alongside Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews on the Hawks top line.

Campbell and Bickell were among the bright spots as the Hawks bounced back from a dismal Game 3 performance to even the best-of-seven series, 2-2. Game 5 is Saturday afternoon at the United Center.

"It would have been really hard to come back from a 3-1 deficit if we lost tonight," Bickell said. "We got the win to tie up the series. Now we carry the momentum and go back home."

Campbell returned to the lineup for the first time since getting hurt March 14 on a shove into the boards by Washington's Alex Ovechkin. Campbell, who has been practicing for more than a week, made the decision to play Wednesday knowing a Game 4 loss would be dire for the Hawks.

"The first period was a little foggy," said Campbell, who was paired with Niklas Hjalmarsson. "If you haven't played in six weeks and then to jump into playoff hockey, they come at you pretty good. It was a challenge. I didn't do a lot the first couple periods and the third I was a bit more comfortable."

Hjalmarsson said Campbell didn't appear to miss a beat. Campbell played 17 shifts for a total of 14:04.

"He's been gone for a while and he did a great job," Hjalmarsson said. "You can't even see that he's been gone for a month."

Campbell gives the Hawks another offensive threat in a series in which they have struggled to score goals. He had 7 goals and 31 assists in 68 regular-season games. Last year, he led all NHL defenseman with 31 assists in road games.

"I thought he played well," said Hawks coach Joel Quenneville. "He got better and better as the game progressed."

While Campbell is a high-profile, high-priced veteran, Bickell is a 24-year-old role player who spent most of the past two seasons with Rockford of the American Hockey League. Bickell was inserted into the lineup to add a physical presence along the boards and in front of the net with his 6-foot-4, 223-pound frame.

"It's a great opportunity," said Bickell, who had 3 goals and an assist in 13 regular-season games with the Hawks. "It shows my character. It's my first time in a playoff game ever."

Bickell admittedly was anxious at the outset, but he made his presence felt by drawing an interference penalty in a battle with Nashville defenseman Francis Bouillon near the Predators' net midway through the first period. The Blackhawks capitalized when Patrick Sharp poked in a loose puck for the Hawks' third power-play goal of the series and a 1-0 lead.

Bickell added an assist on Toews' rebound goal for a 2-0 advantage at 12:55 of the second period. Sharp's goal-scoring rush from center ice late in the period gave the Hawks their biggest lead of the series and set the final margin.

"You look at what (Bickell) brings: He's big, he's fast, he's strong and he's got a good shot," Quenneville said. "We've mostly used him out of need but hes always been effective."