Bolland, Smith out Friday; Hawks recall Pirri

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The Chicago Blackhawks will start their season without Dave Bolland, but there's hope the center will return for Saturday night's home opener.

Bolland practiced for the first time in over a week on Thursday, as he was sidelined with an upper body injury. Bolland, who will not play in Dallas on Friday night, said this injury was not related to his concussion and back problems of the past. Nevertheless it's one more injury for Bolland, who has struggled with them plenty already.

"You always wish you could stay healthy but little things can come out of nowhere," he said. "You're working hard out there and you wish you could get through a whole career with no injury. But some guys it happens to and some guys it doesn't. It's just the way things happen."

Forward Ben Smith did not practice at all on Thursday and is also out for Friday. Smith is still coming back from a concussion he sustained last week against the Detroit Red Wings and has not been cleared for contact. Asked if Smith not practicing was a setback, coach Joel Quenneville said, "it's part of the process."

Quenneville said it's possible the Blackhawks dress seven defensemen Friday.

Meanwhile, Brandon Pirri was recalled from Rockford and will play Friday. Pirri was centering Bryan Bickell and Michael Frolik at Thursday's practice and Quenneville said he could play some with them in the season opener. Pirri wants to make the most of the opportunity.

"If I'm lucky enough to play a couple years in this league, it'll be the same feeling every game. This is just a childhood dream to play in the NHL," said Pirri, who had five points in the preseason. "I wanted to feel confident playing; that's when I play my best."

Montador adjusting

Defenseman Steve Montador said it's been an adjustment to the Blackhawks this preseason. But he said he's felt better about his game as camp's continued.

"It's been an adjustment but I'm as comfortable as I've ever been being here. I know when I'm in the right place," said Montador, who was paired with John Scott in Thursday's practice. "There's a lot of adjustment but I'm in a good place now."

Montador, who signed a four-year deal with the Blackhawks this offseason, didn't talk of specific adjustments. He's getting used to a new system and teammates, which could always be part of it. Coach Joel Quenneville said Montador had a "so-so camp" but improved as it went along -- "once he gets more acclimated and comfortable his game will get to where it needs to be," Quenneville said.

Montador said the same.

"I wouldn't say i was overall happy with it all, but that's a benefit that the games don't count. They're gone and now it's the regular season," he said. "It just takes time on some things, and time is taking time."

Tracey Myers is CSNChicago.com's Blackhawks Insider. Follow Tracey on Twitter @TramyersCSN for up-to-the-minute Hawks information.

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