Fans applaud ex-Blackhawks star Sharp in emotional return

Patrick Sharp spent 10 years playing hockey in Chicago with the Blackhawks and a lot happened over that time.

He went from being a young, single player to one with a wife and two daughters.

He heard inspirational national anthem after inspirational national anthem, hundreds of times.

And he ended a season three times a Stanley Cup champion.

So it was certainly no surprise that his first regular-season game at the United Center as a member of the Dallas Stars came with a roller coaster of emotions.

"It was a tough start to the game, to be honest with you," Sharp said after Dallas beat the Hawks 4-2 on Thursday. "Legs were a little shaky, which was funny. Haven't felt that way for a long time.

"But as the game went on and got a nice cheer from the crowd, that made me feel pretty good. It was just a regular hockey game after that."

Another former Blackhawk, defenseman Johnny Oduya, also played at the UC for the first time since leaving the defending champs.

The Hawks played video tributes to both Sharp and Oduya during the first period, and the fans responded with a pair of standing ovations.

"I can't imagine what it must feel like for those two guys," Jonathan Toews said. "I think even watching the highlights you see right there what those two guys meant. … Brings back good memories and obviously you miss those friends and those teammates. …

"We'd love to have those guys still in this room, so in a way it's kind of tough to see."

Sharp has had a solid season with Dallas, scoring 16 goals, but he hasn't dented the back of the net in 14 straight games.

Dallas and the Hawks are now separated by just 1 point in the standings and play each other two more times in the next five weeks.

Sharp said Wednesday he expects the intensity level to pick up the more he plays against his former mates.

And his former mates concurred.

"Yeah, I mean no matter how good of friends you are, we're that competitive-nature type of athlete," Andrew Shaw said. "We want to win and we're gonna get feisty. Sometimes a little rougher than you normally would, especially playing against your friend."

Said Michal Rozsival: "You have to play on edge when you play against (Sharp). … When you are on the ice, you have to make sure he does not hurt you, right?

"Obviously, you want to be clean, you want to be strong and in his face at all times … You know, a little slash here and there - not in the hands, but in the sticks and in the shin-pads. It's all good. I think it's all part of the game."