Bolland's game a lot more than just agitating

Dave Bolland, as usual, was quite the irritant Friday night.

The Blackhawks third-line center irritated San Jose's top scorers from the get-go.

He also irritated some of the Blackhawks faithful by being whistled for a penalty in each period.

He then returned to what he has done best in this series, irritating the Sharks by scoring his fourth goal of the playoffs midway through the third period to give the Hawks a temporary 2-1 lead.

Then he put the icing on the irritation cake with a corner-of-the-eye assist from behind the San Jose net to a rumbling, stumbling Dustin Byfuglien for the game-winner in overtime, a 3-2 decision that has the Hawks 1 win from a trip to the Stanley Cup Finals.

"Big Buff's goal there - I was ecstatic," Bolland said with grin at the thought. "Hearing the building erupt - it's crazy out there."

Because of the defensive role he and his linemates have been asked to perform in the playoffs, Bolland hasn't been in the limelight much for his offensive skills, but you better believe he has some in his arsenal nonetheless.

"Bolly's got some good offensive touch," Hawks coach Joel Quenneville said. "That play on the goal was great as was the play to Buff in OT.

"We're pleased with his contributions - a couple of huge plays."

After off-season back surgery and missing three months at the start of the season, believe it when Bolland says he's just happy to be back and playing, much less being a major contributor in the playoffs.

"It's been a tough season for me just coming back with my back and getting my legs back and my speed back - it's been tough," said Bolland, who was a plus-2 in 23 minutes of ice time. "To have it turn out like it has now is great."

And it appears to be far from over for a maturing Blackhawks team that continues to aim quite high after losing in the conference finals to the Red Wings last year.

"It was our first time last year in this position," Bolland said. "I think playing Detroit really taught us how to win and taught us how to play in these big games."

Now the Hawks have a chance to clinch the Western Conference finals on home ice Sunday afternoon. And if they do, that would mean all the Sharks players would have to shake the pesky Bolland's hand afterward.

That's got to be an irritating thought.