Frolik's big goal kept Hawks' hopes alive
Michael Frolik sure didn't look like a guy playing in his first Stanley Cup playoff series.
There he stood at center ice of the United Center, a sellout crowd going berserk, the game and the season on the line as the Blackhawks trailed 3-2 in the third period of Game 6.
None of that was on his mind.
“I had a little bit of a longer shift before it happened, so honestly I was a little bit gassed,” he said with a laugh. “I tried to calm down, take a few breaths and not really focus on the crowd — just focus on myself.”
After taking a few breaths, Frolik skated in on Vancouver goalie Cory Schneider, went forehand, backhand and forehand again, beating the Canucks backup to his stick side to tie the game at 3-3.
“It's a good thing,” Frolik said.
Um, it was a little better than that.
“That was a great move by ‘Fro,'” Hawks coach Joel Quenneville said. “The timing and the pressure of the situation made it even more exciting.
“He had a special night and a special series.”
Indeed it was Frolik and linemates Dave Bolland and Bryan Bickell who provided all the scoring in regulation. Bolland now has an amazing 6 points in three games since returning from a concussion. Bickell has 2 goals and 4 points, and Frolik has 2 goals, none bigger than Sunday's.
“That line has been pretty amazing for us,” Quenneville said.
“It's been a good ride for us the last three games,” Bickell said. “Having Bolland come back is good timing because he gives the offense more depth and he's a good checker. We've needed to capitalize on our chances and it's been working.”
Although most of the talk during the Hawks' three-game winning streak has been on the play of Bolland since his return, on Sunday, all Bolland could talk about was his linemate.
“Fro is really coming on now,” Bolland said. “He's finding his roots here with the Blackhawks. What he can do on the ice is great. He's got a big body and he knows how to use it. It's great to have him as a linemate.”
Now one more deep breath for everyone before Game 7 Tuesday in Vancouver.
“No one really believed we could do this,” Frolik said. “It shows what kind of character we have in the room.”