Oct. 04--It wasn't even three months ago when Patrick Sharp and Johnny Oduya were cracking open celebratory beer and champagne inside the Blackhawks' dressing room, celebrating the team's third Stanley Cup in six seasons.
Now they were back, but this time in the opponents' dressing room and donning Stars uniforms in Saturday's 4-0 exhibition victory for the Hawks.
"It was a little difficult to be honest with you," Sharp said. "I'm kind of happy to do it in the preseason to get a feel for what it's going to be like a few times. There's a lot of emotions out there. I know it's just a preseason game, but it's kind of neat to be back in the United Center."
Before the game there were plenty of pleasantries to go around. Sharp talked with Andrew Shaw a bit and he hugged and fist-bumped a few former teammates.
Like Sharp, Oduya said he was glad that the homecoming happened in the preseason. After the game, the two chatted in the hallway with teammates -- new and old.
"You come in very humble," Oduya said. "You want to find your spot on the team and from there, just play the same way, act the same way as you've done before."
Crawford pulled: The plan entering Saturday was for goaltender Corey Crawford to play the entire game. However, coach Joel Quenneville pulled him midway through the second period because of "tightness."
Quenneville didn't provide any specifics on what or where the injury was but said Crawford will be fine to play in Wednesday's opener against the Rangers.
Panarin's debut: Saturday marked the first time the home crowd got a look at rookie winger Artemi Panarin, who has missed most of camp and five exhibitions because of an upper-body injury. Panarin made his NHL debut after lighting up the KHL last season.
Panarin began his night with Artem Anisimov and Patrick Kane, a line that could pack a lot of scoring punch. He made an impact Saturday with two assists.
Leighton to Rockford: The Hawks assigned goaltender Michael Leighton to Rockford after he cleared waivers Saturday.
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