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NHL.com's Q&A feature called "Five Questions With …" runs every Tuesday through the 2017-18 regular season. We talk to key figures in the game and ask them questions to gain insight into their lives, careers and the latest news.
This latest edition features Chicago Blackhawks forward Patrick Sharp.

CHICAGO --Chicago Blackhawks forward Patrick Sharp didn't see this coming. After the Blackhawks were swept by the Nashville Predators in the 2017 Western Conference First Round, they were eager for a chance to rebound this season.
Sharp, 36, who signed a one-year contract July 1 to rejoin the Blackhawks, wanted to be part of it and hopefully rekindle the magic they had during Stanley Cup runs in 2010, 2013 and 2015. He was also looking to come back from his own injury-riddled season with the Dallas Stars.

But not much has gone right. Before a 7-1 win against the Washington Capitals on Saturday, Chicago had lost eight games in a row (0-7-1). The Blackhawks (25-27-8) are 13 points out of the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Western Conference, in last place in the Central Division and, with 22 games remaining, likely to miss the playoffs for the first time since the 2007-08 season.
"It's been a new experience for the Blackhawks, for a lot of guys in here," said Sharp, who scored the Blackhawks' only goal in a 3-1 loss against the Los Angeles Kings on Monday. He has 16 points (seven goals, nine assists) in 51 games and has been a healthy scratch nine times "It's been challenging, that's for sure. But nobody's going to feel sorry for us as a team or as an organization."
Here are Five Questions with… Patrick Sharp.
Some of the veteran players in this room have been through a lot, have always been able to pull themselves out of funks. So, is it surprising it's been so tough to pull out of this?
"A little bit. You focus on the day, the task at hand, the present. Even more importantly, one shift at a time. We haven't played too poorly on this losing streak at different stretches; it's just one mistake here or there, and that's the difference in the game. But that's how I'd approach it: Don't look too far down that line. Just worry about day to day."

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The last time the Blackhawks had a long losing streak was 2011-12 (nine games). Could you take anything out of that experience or has too much changed?
"Whenever you're on a losing streak, and there haven't been too many, fortunately, here in Chicago, but whenever you're on it, it's easy to feel sorry for yourself. It's easy to hang your head. That's where you need to be a professional and dig yourself out of it. There have been a handful of games on that streak where maybe we deserved a better result and didn't get it."
You were hopeful for your own season entering 2017-18. How tough has this been for your personally?
"It's been a challenging season, very similar to what the team's going through. I don't want to look too far ahead and focus on that. I'm just concerned about getting through day to day. I've seen in this league, things turn around, good and bad at times, and momentum is a crazy thing in the NHL. So, let's focus on the game tomorrow and go from there."
You've been on a line with rookie forward Alex DeBrincat a few times this season. What do you think of what he's been able to do?
"He's been fun to be around all season long. I've had a lot of fun with him on and off the ice. I think he's a great player and he's got an extremely bright future. That goes without saying. More important, I like the way he talks hockey. He asks a lot of questions. That's something Patrick Kane did when he was younger, that's something I did, [Duncan Keith] and [Brent Seabrook]. You always want to talk the game, ask the older guys different experiences in the past. Now that I'm on the other side answering those questions, I find it quite fun."

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We've talked about how much this team is missing injured goaltender Corey Crawford on the ice. How much do you miss that presence in the room too?
"Yeah, a familiar face that's been on this team for a long time and part of the room. Then you remove him from it, and all of a sudden, it's a loss in a lot of different ways. It was good to have him back on that road trip (Feb. 12-13 for games against the Arizona Coyotes and Vegas Golden Knights). Hopefully, he can get back on the ice shortly."