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Dallas Stars: Patrick Sharp’s Point Streak And Why It’s Important

By Cole Mentzel

Oct 29, 2015; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Stars left wing Patrick Sharp (10) watches his team take on the Vancouver Canucks during the third period at the American Airlines Center. Sharp scores two goals. The Stars defeat the Canucks 4-3 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 29, 2015; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Stars left wing Patrick Sharp (10) watches his team take on the Vancouver Canucks during the third period at the American Airlines Center. Sharp scores two goals. The Stars defeat the Canucks 4-3 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /
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Despite a slow start to his 2015-16 season, Patrick Sharp has been very valuable to the Dallas Stars and his recent point streak is one reason why.

It was one of the biggest moves of the summer. Dallas Stars GM Jim Nill traded Trevor Daley and Ryan Garbutt to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for Patrick Sharp and Stephen Johns.

The trade impacted both teams equally as the Blackhawks lost one of the core players from their Stanley Cup teams and the Stars gained extra veteran experience for their rising group of players.

Sharp started off his career with the Stars somewhat slow as it took him eight games to get his first goal, however, since he scored that goal against the Anaheim Ducks, he has been incredibly important to the Stars’ success this season.

On Dec. 19 against the Montreal Canadiens, Sharp earned two points. That was the beginning of what has turned into a 12-game point streak, the second-longest in the NHL this season behind Patrick Kane. Here’s a quick rundown of what he has accomplished in the streak so far:

Dec. 19 – Dec 26

  • Dec. 19 (MTL) – In the first game of Sharp’s streak, he managed to score two points, including the game-winning goal, in a huge 6-2 win over the Canadiens.
  • Dec. 21 (MIN) – Next, he tallied an assist in a solid 6-3 win over a divisional opponent.
  • Dec. 22 (CHI) – This one has to be his favorite game of the year, as Sharp scored a goal and added a helper in a 4-0 win against his former team.
  • Dec. 26 (STL) – Despite a tough 3-2 loss in the shootout, he assisted a Tyler Seguin goal that gave the Stars a one-goal lead late in the second.

Dec. 27 – Jan. 2

  • Dec. 27 (STL) – In the second game of a back-to-back against the Blues, Sharp had a goal and an assist en route to a 3-0 shutout. He scored first in the game, giving him the game-winning goal.
  • Dec. 29 (CBJ) – This was one of the of the worst games of the season for the Stars as they lost to the Blue Jackets 6-3, but Sharp scored off of a beautiful feed from Jason Spezza early in the third.
  • Dec. 31 (NSH) – As the Stars won their 11th New Years Eve game, Sharp assisted Tyler Seguin on one of his two third period goals in a 5-1 win.
  • Jan. 2 (NJD) – On the start of a brutal three-game losing streak, he managed to score a third period goal as a part of the Stars’ effort towards a late comeback bid in a 3-2 OT loss.

Jan. 3 – Jan. 9

  • Jan. 3 (NYI) – Sharp managed to fit in another goal in a game where the Stars yet again failed to comeback late, losing 6-5.
  • Jan. 5 (NYR) – In the last game of the Stars’ worst stretch of the season, he added an assist in a 6-2 loss.
  • Jan. 7 (WPG) – The Stars got back on track against a divisional opponent but they couldn’t have done it without Sharp, who assisted Seguin on the Stars’ lone goal and scored in the shootout to help get a 2-1 win.
  • Jan. 9 (MIN) – In the last game of the streak (so far), Sharp assisted Jamie Benn on the power play. The Stars went on to lose 2-1.

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It’s obvious that Sharp is definitely feeling at-home in Dallas and his ongoing point streak has been a testament to that.

A game against the Blue Jackets, where he logged eight shots, and games against the Preds and Isles with six shots, proves that Sharp is doing a little bit of everything. Also, even though the Stars lost six of the games mentioned above, Sharp only had one game with a negative +/- (against NYR).

It’s important that he has been playing well lately since the Stars, as a team, have not looked as dominant as they did at the beginning of the season. That’s another reason why Sharp is such a great player to have in the locker room. His leadership and veteran experience helps him contribute to the effort put out each night whether the game is a win or a loss.

Next: Is It Time For The Stars To Panic?

Overall, it’s critical that Patrick Sharp continues to make plays at the right time, since he has been the Stars’ best forward behind Benn and Seguin . He will get the chance to extend his point streak to 13 games when the Stars take on the Ducks on Friday.

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