June 06--TAMPA, Fla. -- One of the NHL's purest goal-scorers hasn't scored in the last 10 games.
And you know what? Patrick Sharp doesn't care.
"I honestly don't," the veteran winger said after the Blackhawks' practice Friday at Amalie Arena on the eve of Saturday night's Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final here against the Lightning.
"As long as we're winning games and our line is contributing, it doesn't matter who scores."
Still, the fact he's in a goal drought during the most critical time of the season surely has to be lurking somewhere in the back of his head.
"No, not at all," Sharp said. "It's the Stanley Cup Final, that's the last thing on my mind."
In the postseason, goals have been hard to come by for many of the league's top scorers as defense often rules, limiting time and space on the ice.
"Teams are checking better, skating faster and everything is happening quicker out there," said Sharp, who hasn't scored since Game 2 of the Hawks' second-round series against the Wild on May 3. "Just watching the games you can tell scoring chances are way down. Having said that, you have to be prepared to play hard. It's about being responsible and being good every shift -- and winning games. It doesn't really matter this time of year what the individual stats show. That's what I'm focused on."
To that end, Sharp has done just that by focusing on being strong defensively while also creating chances for himself and linemates Teuvo Teravainen and Antoine Vermette. The latter two provided all the scoring -- with Sharp on the ice for Vermette's game-winner -- during the Hawks' 2-1 victory over the Lightning in Game 1 on Wednesday night.
"The three of us have been together for a significant period of time now and we feel like we're on the same page," Sharp said. "We know what we want to accomplish out there. Our line is scoring some big goals so that's a good thing this time of year."
Said coach Joel Quenneville: "We don't care where (goals) come from. (Sharp's) linemates scored two key goals for us last game. I thought he had an outstanding practice (Friday). But, certainly, he's one more weapon that can add some offense to our game.
"It's not like I'm picking who can score for us. We're looking for ... some contributions across the board. I can't complain when his line comes up with two big goals."
Occasional linemate Kris Versteeg said Sharp has made the Hawks' third line better, spreading out the offense and stretching opponents' defense thin.
"He adds a whole dimension of speed that backs D-men off and makes other players dangerous," Versteeg said. "Him on that side has made Teuvo a better player because when they have to focus on Sharp at times, Teuvo might get a little more opportunity."
At 33 and with 42 goals and 36 assists in 124 career postseason games -- including four goals and eight helpers throughout the 2015 playoffs -- Sharp knows to keep an even keel despite the lack of goals.
"When you start trying to score goals, that's when you get yourself into trouble," Sharp said. "It's when you play the game the right way, the way the team wants to you to, and you play responsible defensively and you create opportunities for yourself and your teammates, that's when you can feel good about yourself."
A one-time fixture on the top line, Sharp's role has changed in recent seasons but there is a feeling in the locker room -- starting in his stall -- that he can explode offensively at any moment.
"Every year our team has had success in the playoffs, depth has been a key to our success, whether it's four lines and six or eight D, two goalies, you name it," Sharp said. "It seems like the so-called hero can come from anybody at any time."
At some point in this series -- possibly Game 2 -- it could be Sharp's turn.
ckuc@tribpub.com
