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He shoots, he scores.
He plays the game the way it should be played. Fast, hard and without shying from contact.
He has two hat tricks in the last 8 days.
Coming soon to a Canadian Olympic team (if there's any justice or sense) near you:
#10 on the roster, #1 in the hearts of ad men and female Blackhawk fans (after her recent first visit to the UC, a female friend of mine—an erstwhile Blue Jackets booster—has emphatically declared herself "more of a Sharp fan").
Patrick Sharp.
He's slowly putting together a fairly monstrous season, with 45 points (25/20) in 44 games and +22. Meanwhile, his linemates on what could be the best line in the NHL, Jonathan Toews and Marian Hossa, are +21 and +22 respectively.
Tied at 1 after two periods, the Hawks got four third period goals, including two from Sharp, to tally a 5-3 win over the Devils in their building last night.
The Hawks played very well last night, including now backup netminder Antti Raanta who delivered some huge saves, especially early on in the game, to push his record for the season to 11-1-3, and Duncan Keith, who added 3 more assists last night putting his season total at 39, tied with Sidney Crosby for second in the league.
Keith, like Patrick Kane (also having a big season), is pushing for postseason honors, perhaps his second Norris Trophy.
But the Hawks struggled a bit Thursday night on Long Island, losing in overtime to the Islanders. The Hawks have shown a bit of a tendency over the last couple of years to struggle against teams like the Isle, the Oilers and the Avalanche, who play a speed game. These teams have the ability to make the Hawks pay when they get too stretched out and committed too far up ice.
In his first game back after a long absence due to a lower body injury, #1 net minder Corey Crawford had some big saves in that game, but struggled as well, looking a bit rusty at times.
Coming home to face the Sharks tomorrow night (NBCSN, WGN-TV, 7 Central) at the UC, the Hawks lead the league in points with 66, though only Edmonton has played as many games.
WJC UPDATE
2012 #1 pick Teuvo Teravainen is the talk of the World Juniors with 9 assists in 5 games. Teravainen and Finland meet Canada in a huge semi-final game today at 1 Eastern.
Hawk D prospect Robin Norrell plays for Sweden in the other semifinal going on this morning versus Russia, who eliminated Ryan Hartman, Vince Hinostroza and the U.S. in the quarters.
All for now, look for a Sharks preview tomorrow,
JJ