Patrick Sharp's Return Breathes New Life Into Blackhawks: Is it Enough?

The month of March has been a difficult month for the Chicago Blackhawks.

They have finally hit their dry spell, and it could not have happened at a worst time. The Blackhawks were 3-5-2 coming into Sunday, March 22 game against the Los Angeles Kings, but something was different.

What was different you ask?

Patrick Sharp was back in the Chicago lineup after missing 16 games, and his impact was felt immediately. He had two goals and an assist in the Blackhawks 4-1 win over the Kings.

He is a major key for the Hawks playoff hopes. His sniping ability and veteran leadership are important to this young, inexperienced team.

Sharp was leading the team in goals when he went down with injury. Since then, the Blackhawks have struggled to score goals outside of Jonathan Toews.

But will Sharp's return mean the Blackhawks are a lock for the playoffs?

No, even though they seem safe in the No. 4 spot in the West, the Hawks are only 10 points ahead of the eighth place Nashville Predators.

As a Blackhawks fan, I would love to say that Chicago are a lock, but you need to look at their schedule and see that their road is not so smooth over the next 10 games.

They will lock horns with the likes of the Detroit Red Wings, New Jersey Devils, San Jose Sharks, and Vancouver Canucks. Four teams that are going to be in the top five places of their conferences. 

Sharp may not be the biggest point producer down the stretch. It does, however, provide them with another weapon that other teams must recognize, opening up opportunities for the likes of Martin Havlat, Patrick Kane, and Toews.

Even though the road looks difficult from here on out, the activation of Sharp helps them immensely and turns them into the team the won eight straight earlier this season. 

Blackhawks fans worry not.

If Chicago can win some key games towards the end of the season, they will be in the playoffs and looking to makes some noise against the veteran teams.