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 After his latest scoring outburst, maybe it's Team Canada that
should be focused on Sharp.
The right winger scored three goals — his second hat trick in eight
days — as the Chicago Blackhawks used a four-goal outburst in the
third period to defeat the New Jersey Devils 5-3 on Friday night at
the Prudential Center.
Sharp has 25 goals this season and trails only Washington Capitals
superstar Alex Ovechkin, who has 31. His third of the game with 1:28
remaining in the third period halted a furious Devils comeback and
pushed the Blackhawks to 66 points, most in the NHL in this season.
Everyone has their projections for Team Canada, and Sharp appears to
be right on the roster bubble.
"My priority right now is the Hawks and that's the way it's been all
season," Sharp said. "I think hearing stuff about yourself as a
player, that kind of motivates you. So there's a little extra
incentive to play well. But I'm getting a bigger opportunity this
year and I want to make sure that I show them that I'm worth it."
Sharp has shown coach Joel Quenneville and the rest of the
Blackhawks staff all season that he's worth it, but he was
especially brilliant against the Devils.
His first goal was the result of a Devils turnover inside their own
zone, which occurred not long after Sharp was denied by goaltender
Martin Brodeur. Sharp did not make the same mistake twice, wiring a
wrist shot over Brodeur's catching glove to put the Blackhawks ahead
1-0 early in the second period.
Sharp's second goal occurred early in the third period and extended
the lead to 3-1. He took a feed from defenseman Brent Seabrook in
the corner and ripped a bad-angle shot into the far corner.
The lead was pushed to 4-1 on a goal by right winger Marian Hossa,
but Devils defenseman Marek Zidlicky scored twice to cut the lead to
a goal. That's when Sharp answered on a breakaway with 1:28
remaining, salting the game away by stepping around a sprawling
Brodeur and stashing the puck into an open net.
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Sharp has nine goals in his past six games, and captain
Jonathan Toews has enjoyed being part of the offensive binge.
"He's confident. He's flying. He has lots of energy. It's great
to see," Toews said. "Everything that touches his stick ends up
in the back of the net, so for myself, I'm just trying to make
some space for guys like him and (Hossa). If our line is
scoring, it doesn't matter who is doing it, but Sharp is
obviously been hot, so hopefully it will continue that way."
It was a wild final 20 minutes after the first two periods were
played evenly. Devils defenseman Andy Greene answered Sharp's
first goal 43 seconds later to tie the score at 1. It would
remain that way until Blackhawks left winger Brandon Saad scored
early in the third period.
The Devils lost their focus as Sharp and Hossa capped a
four-minute stretch in which the Blackhawks scored three times
and it cost them a chance at two points.
"We played a solid 40 minutes there," Devils right winger
Stephen Gionta said. "I don't know what the difference was in
the third, but we just didn't have it there in the first 12
minutes and that hurt us in the end."
Devils coach Peter DeBoer said, "We have to play a perfect game
to beat that team, especially with (center Patrik) Elias out of
the lineup. We didn't finish in the second period on some of the
chances we had."
NOTES: Blackhawks G Jason LaBarbera was expected to be sent to
the minors after the game, leaving G Antti Raanta as the primary
backup to starting G Corey Crawford. ... Devils C Patrik Elias
(lower body) did not play and will be out through the weekend.
... Devils LW Ryan Carter returned after a 15-game absence due
to a knee injury. ... RW Mike Sislo made his NHL debut for the
Devils. The 25-year-old had spent the past three-plus seasons in
the AHL after a four-year stint at the University of New
Hampshire. He wore No. 9, the former number of LW Mattias
Tedenby, who was placed on non-roster waivers by the Devils on
Friday.
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