from Mark Lazerus of the Chicago Sun-Times,

Then, it became more obvious. There was a “Thank You, Sharpy” tribute video late in the third period — with Sharp getting a lengthy standing ovation, pounding his chest and waving to the largest crowd of the season, 22,218. Then the Hawks stayed out on the ice after the game, waited for Sharp to shake hands with the departing Blues, and sent him on a solo lap around the ice, one last chance to say goodbye to the city he never wanted to leave.

Sharp’s career will end Saturday night in Winnipeg. But this was the emotional one, the last home game.

“It was a tough game out there, tough to concentrate with what was going on inside my head,” Sharp said after the 4-1 loss. “But thankful that I was able to do that. . . . The guys staying out on the ice and making me do a lap was something I’ll always remember. It was a special night.”

Sharp had been shrugging off the question about his future for months, but admitted Friday night that he always knew somewhere in the back of his mind that this homecoming season would probably be his last.

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Below, watch as the Chicago fans salute Patrick Sharp and he does the same.