"When your team is kicking off a critical nine-game road trip that could go a long way toward dictating where it finishes in the postseason race, a prognosis of being sidelined three-to-four-weeks ends up being a lot closer to three.

Winger Patrick Sharp, who suffered a broken bone in his left wrist Jan. 8 when he was slashed by the Red Wings' Jiri Hudler and was expected to be sidelined up to a month, returned to the Blackhawks' lineup 23 days after sustaining the injury when they lost 3-2 in overtime to the Canucks on Tuesday night at Rogers Arena.

Sharp said he was "100 percent healthy" after Tuesday's morning skate, but a source told the Tribune that the veteran is experiencing some pain and stiffness in the wrist and there's a possibility surgery will be required on the broken bone on the outside of his left wrist once the season ends. The bone, which isn't critical to movement in the wrist, is healed enough for Sharp to return to the lineup, however."