Bolland back as Blackhawks look to extend streak

CHICAGO -- Dave Bolland will re-enter the lineup for the Chicago Blackhawks against the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday at United Center.

Bolland has missed five straight games with an undisclosed upper-body injury and is anxious to rejoin his teammates while centering Chicago's second line between Patrick Sharp and Patrick Kane. The Blackhawks (19-0-3) still haven't lost in regulation through 22 games this season -- 28 straight if you add last season's closing 3-0-3 stretch -- and Bolland hopes to help extend the streak.

"I'm feeling good and I'm going to play tonight," Bolland said after Chicago's morning skate. "It's been great, even watching them on TV keep the [points] streak alive, so coming back and helping them out is a big thing in keeping this thing going."

At the same time, Bolland said he's been frustrated sitting out.

"It's never fun when you're sitting out games and [they're] winning and seeing all the fun that's going on," Bolland said. "It's always disappointing watching it on TV and seeing what's going on. I'm just glad I'm back and ready."

Bolland's return to the active lineup bumps young center Marcus Kruger to the middle of the fourth line, where it appears the Blackhawks will not have speedy right wing Michael Frolik on Tuesday.

Frolik didn't participate in the morning skate because he's sick, which will have an effect on Chicago's dogged fourth line and penalty-killing unit, which is ranked third in the NHL (89.7 percent).

Based on how Chicago's forward lines looked in the morning skate, it appears Brandon Bollig will take Frolik's place on the fourth line, with Daniel Carcillo on the other side of Kruger, who did a good job filling in for Bolland on the second line.

"There's been different guys there [on the fourth line] almost every game, so I don't think it's going to change too much," Kruger told NHL.com, referring to Frolik's absence. "We have to have the same mindset and not try to change what we do."

Corey Crawford (10-0-3, 1.41 goals-against average) will get the start in net for the Blackhawks after backstopping a 2-1 shootout road win March 3 against the Detroit Red Wings.

Here is how the Wild and Blackhawks might line up Tuesday:

WILD

Zach Parise – Mikko Koivu – Charlie Coyle

Jason Zucker – Matt Cullen – Devin Setoguchi

Pierre-Marc Bouchard – Mikael Granlund – Dany Heatley

Michael Rupp – Kyle Brodziak – Torrey Mitchell

Ryan Suter – Jonas Brodin

Justin Falk – Tom Gilbert

Jared Spurgeon – Clayton Stoner

Niklas Backstrom

Darcy Kuemper

Scratched: Zenon Konopka, Nate Prosser

Injured: Josh Harding, Cal Clutterbuck (IR bruised thigh)

BLACKHAWKS

Brandon Saad – Jonathan Toews – Marian Hossa

Patrick Sharp – Dave Bolland – Patrick Kane

Bryan Bickell – Andrew Shaw – Viktor Stalberg

Daniel Carcillo – Marcus Kruger – Brandon Bollig

Duncan Keith – Brent Seabrook

Niklas Hjalmarsson – Johnny Oduya

Nick Leddy – Michal Rozsival

Corey Crawford

Ray Emery

Scratched: Jamal Mayers, Sheldon Brookbank, Michael Frolik (illness)

Injured: Steve Montador (IR upper body), Rostislav Olesz (IR lower body)