The Chicago Blackhawks will sit Viktor Stalberg and play Brandon Bollig in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup FInal, head coach Joel Quenneville confirmed on Wednesday.
Chicago should get more physicality out of Bollig, and that appears to be Quenneville's reasoning for going with Bollig instead of Stalberg. Bollig has played just three playoff games this season, with all three coming in the first round against Minnesota. As a result, he hasn't played since May 5, but he did total 11 hits in those three games despite minimal minutes, showing the kind of physicality that the Blackhawks will hope for in Game 1.
"All year long, whether the situation or the team, I think [Bollig's] pretty smart on knowing what he brings to our team, and to the table," Quenneville said. "We want him to play hard, smart, within the whistles, bring that element."
The lineup change was expected after Stalberg was kept out of the line rushes in practice on Tuesday. Bollig took his place alongside Marcus Kruger and Michael Frolik, making up a fourth line that Chicago is expected to use in Game 1.
Stalberg has had a rocky postseason. He was benched for Game 1 and Game 2 of the Western Conference Semifinals after playing all but one game in the regular season and has just three assists in 15 games this postseason.
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