Dallas Stars Could Have New Weapon In Patrick Sharp

The Dallas Stars currently hold a record of 8-2-0 through the early goings of their 2015-2016 campaign. With 16 points, they are the best team in the Western Conference and trail the first spot by just two points with a game in hand.

Their most recent victory was a come-from-behind win against the Vancouver Canucks at home on Thursday night. After falling behind 3-1 in the third period, the Stars picked it up with help from a few different players and closed the gap. They took it to overtime where captain Jamie Benn ended it on a snipe for the Stars’ first extra time win of the year.

This second straight home win can be attributed to a few different things. But one of the main factors in each win was the improving play of Patrick Sharp.

As part of the blockbuster trade on July 10th, 2015, Sharp was shipped from the Chicago Blackhawks, who had just won the Stanley Cup, to the Dallas Stars. Stars GM Jim Nill pointed out that the Stars already had a prolific and high-energy offense and that Sharp would simply add veteran presence.

As a 13-year veteran, the 33-year old filed in on the second line to start the season next to Jason Spezza and Valeri Nichushkin. But knowing head coach Lindy Ruff, these lines did not last long. Overall, Sharp has been flipped between the first and second lines multiple times so far this season, but it does not seem to have phased him.

Sharp started out the season on a rather slow pace. While he was expected to experience some adaptation issues just as Jason Spezza had the year before, it was interesting to watch Sharp go pointless through the first four games. Averaging about 19:30 on the ice per game, it was surprising when Sharp neglected to produce.

It was clear that Sharp became weary and frustrated as the games went on without him producing. As the Stars finished up their third win of the season in Tampa Bay in game four, Sharp was given the puck multiple times with an empty net waiting but could not find the back of it.

On October 17th, Sharp finally found his first points as a Star when he tallied two assists against the Florida Panthers. Sharp would find his way into tallying a point every other game until the Dallas Stars started a long home stretch on Tuesday night against the Anaheim Ducks.

After falling down 3-0 in the first period, Patrick Sharp ignited the Stars comeback by ripping a one-timer past Frederik Andersen on the power play for his first goal with Dallas. The Stars would eventually come back to take the 4-3 victory.

Sharp carried his goal scoring success into Thursday night’s game when he netted two more goals against the Canucks, including the one that tied the game up late in the third period.

So now through the first ten games of the year, Sharp has picked up six points (3-3-6) and looks to have found his place on this new squad. If he continues to produce as he has been the past few games, the Dallas Stars will not just have a first line filled with weapons, but a second one as well.

The Stars offense started the year by picking up right where they left off last season. They are only getting hotter with each passing game, and Sharp is a prime player to thank for that. The Stars next game is Saturday afternoon when they take on the San Jose Sharks. We’ll see if this team shows up once again.

Next: Stars Complete Another Comeback, Stun Canucks 4-3 In OT

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