Emotional return to Chicago for Shaw

With 20,000-plus fans at the United Center on their feet, cheering a player they fell in love with from Day One, Andrew Shaw admitted it was tough to keep his composure during a video tribute to his five-year career as a Blackhawk.

"I mean, yeah. Obviously your emotions are out of whack at that point," said Shaw, back in town Sunday as a member of the Montreal Canadiens.

The tribute ran the gamut, showing everything from Shaw's first NHL goal to the head-butt (non)-goal in Anaheim during the 2015 Western Conference finals to him carrying the Stanley Cup in 2013 while bleeding below the right eye.

In addition to the fans, players on both benches showed their appreciation by banging their sticks on the ice or the sideboards.

"It's amazing obviously," Shaw said. "You know (I've) built some relationships over the years here. To see the support that's still there, it's pretty phenomenal. I hope they always support me as a hockey player."

Said Patrick Kane: "It was good to see him again. We miss him in this locker room for sure. He's a great kid. Great person and was a big reason we had a lot of success here."

Shaw was all over the place during Montreal's 3-2 loss Sunday, finishing with 6 shots on goal and a whopping 9 hits. He had two golden opportunities to beat Corey Crawford but was turned away both times.

As he said when he was traded in June, Shaw said it wasn't easy leaving behind the friends he made or the city called home since the Hawks drafted him in 2011.

"Obviously it's always tough to leave, but with new opportunity comes new success," Shaw said. "I've got to bring what made me successful here to Montreal."

Shaw on Bickell:

Andrew Shaw said he talked to good friend Bryan Bickell late last week after finding out the former Blackhawks forward was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.

"It's a tough time he's going through obviously," Shaw said. "He's a strong kid. He's going to compete and work through this.

"He's got great family around him. He's in good hands. We're down in Carolina next week, so I plan on going to dinner with him and having a good talk with him."

Bickell, now with the Hurricanes, plans to take some time off before attempting to return to the NHL.

Brutal beatings:

With Montreal suffering a 10-0 defeat to Columbus on Nov. 1 and the Canadiens in town Sunday, it seemed like a good time to ask Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville if he could recall the most lopsided games he played in.

"We had some crazy games," said Quenneville, who played from 1979-91. "One we won 11 or 12-0. We got beat one time in Calgary 13-4, something like that. That flame was pretty hot out there at the old Corral."

He said it:

"He always talked about how tough he was, so it was good to see him drop the gloves."

Andrew Shaw on Artemi Panarin fighting St. Louis' Scottie Upshall on Wednesday.