Dave Bolland is back in the lineup as is Marcus Kruger, who was recalled from the Rockford IceHogs, as the Chicago Blackhawks host the Dallas Stars in their home opener tonight.
Bolland has been out for more than a week with an undisclosed upper-body injury. Bolland said the injury was not related to previous concussion and back problems.
Kruger, meanwhile, will likely be the Blackhawks' fourth-line center tonight. Brandon Pirri, who played last night in Dallas, was assigned to Rockford this morning.
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"We didn't mind his game," coach Joel Quenneville said of Pirri. "Offensively he did some good things. Defensively he needs to play a little bit."
With Bolland the Blackhawks will bring their postseason checking line of he, Bryan Bickell and Michael Frolik together again.
"They seemed to play well at the end of last year. We didn't get much of a chance to see them in camp but we're looking forward to getting that going tonight," Quenneville said.
Meanwhile, Quenneville said Ben Smith did not skate today. "He's progressing," Quenneville said.
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Tracey Myers is CSNChicago.com's Blackhawks Insider. Follow Tracey on Twitter @TramyersCSN for up-to-the-minute Hawks information