Blackhawks’ Bolland prefers ‘shutdown role’

Dave Bolland, who will return from a groin injury for Game 1 of the second round, says it’s a different mindset centering the third line — which he will do — than the second line for Patrick Kane and Patrick Sharp.

“You probably do think a little different, thinking you’ve got to be that top goal scorer, maybe the top guy to put the points up,” Bolland said. “The third line is more of a shutdown role.”

It sounds as if Bolland prefers playing on the third line.

“I’ve been successful on the third line,” he said. “It’s sort of been my thing. That’s where I’ve had most of my success, but whatever happens, happens.

“This year has been an up-and-down roller-coaster ride for myself. But that’s in the past and this is now.”

With Bolland centering the third line it means Andrew Shaw shifts to right wing, a position he hasn’t played much all season.

“I’ve played both positions,” Shaw said. “I’m pretty used to it now, a few shifts every game on the wing, so that helps. I just have to stick to the system and play simple hockey and just work.

“You’ve got to mix things up and keep everyone fresh. He (coach Joel Quenneville) makes those decisions, not us.”

All about winning:Patrick Sharp knows the 5 goals he scored in the first round to lead the Hawks means nothing now.#147;It#146;s always nice to contribute offensively, but this time of year it#146;s not about who is scoring the goals and getting points. It#146;s about winning games,#148; Sharp said.#147;We can feel good about winning that (first) series. It#146;s an accomplishment to win a playoff series because it#146;s never easy. So having done that we can feel good about ourselves, but going forward it#146;s going to get more difficult, so we have to raise our level.#148;Pushing back:Andrew Shaw was asked if the Minnesota Wild pushed the Hawks hard enough in the first round.#147;It#146;s not how we were pushed; it#146;s how we pushed ourselves,#148; he said. #147;I don#146;t think as a team we pushed each other enough. That#146;s something we#146;ve got to work on here going into the next round.#148;