DETROIT -- Chicago Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane has been stealing the headlines the last few games, but Patrick Sharp has been just as productive, if not more so.

Sharp had a goal and an assist in the Hawks’ 2-1 win over the Detroit Red Wings on Sunday, which was preceded by two helpers in a 2-1 win over Ottawa on Friday. That’s four goals in two games, and Sharp was a part of them all.

“He had eyes in the back of his head or he said his prayers and put it to the slot,” Kane joked of Sharp’s assist on the game-winning goal Sunday. “It was a great play all-around and a huge goal at the end of a period.”

Kane crashed the net where Sharp put a no-look pass on Kane’s stick from behind the Wings goal. It came with just 1:19 left in the second period and was the game’s final tally.

“I heard him calling for it so I just threw it to the slot and he made a great move,” Sharp said.
Usually Kane is finding Sharp for scores, but this time it was the other way around. But Sharp isn’t known as a playmaker, he’s a sniper at heart. And he was back at the point on a Hawks’ power play in the first period firing away for the first goal of the game.

“I like being back there on the point,” Sharp said. “The last couple of years I’ve had some success back there. I can anticipate when to go into the net and when to get out. I don’t think we’re giving up a ton of shorthanded chances when I’m back there so that’s a good sign.”


Sharp had seven of the Hawks’ 18 shots on net. It was just a few games ago that Sharp was playing in the slot with the Hawks on the man-advantage. That’s not where he belongs. His goal from the point was his 25th while his assist was his 30th. Not bad for a player who missed nine games with a broken left wrist.

“Goals are tough to come by for everyone in the league these days,” Sharp said. “We’ll take them when we can get them.”

Slappers

The Hawks had just 18 shots on net but weren’t credited with at least one. Bryan Bickell put a blast on net which Joey MacDonald made a great glove save on during a Hawks power play, yet Bickell wasn’t credited with a shot on goal.

Jamal Mayers has been in the slot for three power-play goals scored over the last four games.

“The first thing is taking the faceoff without [Jonathan Toews] there,” Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said. “Then he’s been a good net presence.”

Sharp took a big hit from Niklas Kronwall late in the second period, which Bickell retaliated on, getting a boarding penalty. Sharp was all right, recalling Kronwall had warned him before the hit. The Hawks killed off the penalty to start the third period.

Since their 0-for-39 power-play slump, the Hawks are 3-for-10 with the extra man over the last four games.