Sharp delivering clutch goals for Hawks
When Patrick Sharp scored 20 goals last season, many of them came late when the Blackhawks were hopelessly out of the playoff race and the games had little meaning.
But nobody is scoring bigger goals now for the Hawks than Sharp, who leads the team with 10, including an NHL-leading 5 short-handed and 3 game-winners.
Sharp had the best game of his career Saturday when he scored 3 goals in the third period and also dished out an assist as the Hawks rallied for a 5-3 victory at Detroit.
Sharp already is halfway to the 20 goals he scored last year and it's not even Thanksgiving.
"He's played great," Hawks coach Denis Savard said. "I've given him a lot more ice time and he has responded."
There hasn't been a more dangerous penalty-killer in the NHL over the first quarter of the season than Sharp. At this rate, Sharp will challenge Dirk Graham's club record of 10 short-handed goals in a season.
When Sharp sees an opportunity short-handed he's not thinking about killing time -- he's thinking go for it, and with Savard's blessing.
"I like to anticipate the play a little bit, and any bouncing pucks I want to try to move my feet as best I can and jump on them," Sharp said. "It's tough to get chances in the NHL, and whenever an opportunity arises like that you want to make sure you get on it."
Sharp got the goal that proved to be the game-winner against the Red Wings short-handed with 6:56 to play, snapping a 3-3 tie. It was 1 of 3 short-handed goals in the game for the Hawks. Rene Bourque had 2.
Red Wings defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom fell down at the Hawks' blue line and Sharp pounced on the puck. He turned on the jets to beat Niklas Kronwall to the net. Sharp had another short-handed breakaway 54 seconds later but was stoned by goalie Dominik Hasek.
"They're an aggressive team on the PK; they're jumping on when they get chances," Lidstrom said.
It was the first time in franchise history that the Red Wings allowed 3 short-handed goals in a game.
"I don't know how you explain it," Detroit coach Mike Babcock said. "I've never been involved in a game where there were 3 short-handed goals, and there could have been 4."
The Hawks have scored almost half as many short-handed goals (8) as power-play goals allowed (17).
"Our penalty-killers have won some big games for us," Savard said.
The Red Wings, 0-4 against the Hawks, no doubt are glad they won't see them again until Jan. 6 at the United Center.
"They're the best team in our division and we feel like it's a test every game that we play them," Sharp said. "It's great to have these games against the Wings to test ourselves."