Frolik holding his own in playoffs

Blackhawks winger Michael Frolik is finding out a few things about himself.

Frolik, who played few meaningful games when he was with the Florida Panthers, has elevated his play in the first four playoff games of his career both offensively and in a gritty kind of way.

Frolik had a goal and 2 assists and was plus-4 in Tuesday’s 7-2 win in Game 4 and even in the games the Hawks lost he was one of their better players.

His 6 hits led all of his teammates in the series opener.

“This was my first playoff and I never expected nothing (like it),” Frolik said. “It’s a great experience for me. The pace level and everything is higher and I’m just trying to enjoy it.

“It’s amazing, it’s so different than it was in Florida. It’s exciting and a different experience. Its great to be here.”

With Dave Bolland returning to the lineup, Frolik shifted back to wing on a line with Bolland and Bryan Bickell that dominated Tuesday’s win at both ends of the ice.

“With Bolland playing you have so many more options for putting lines together,” Hawks coach Joel Quenneville said. “I thought we had energy on all of our lines.”

The Hawks have been the clear winner in the trade with Florida that brought Frolik to Chicago in exchange for Jack Skille.

The Hawks believe Frolik is going to become an even more complete player with experience such as he is getting in the playoffs.

“The one thing is as we’ve progressed here, we’re looking for production, but his anticipation, his positioning, defensively he seems to be always around tre puck and does some smart things,” Quenneville said.

“In the past he’s been known as a scorer and an offensive guy, but I just think that eventually, with the defensive part, you get your turn offensively because he has that part in his game.”

Frolik will be a restricted free agent after the season and is playing as if he wants to show the Hawks he deserves a to be among the top six forwards next season.