Rookie nets two goals in third period of 4-2 victory in San
Jose
SAN JOSE – Jonathan Cheechoo began a two-goal effort in the third period with a successful penalty shot to spur the San Jose Sharks past the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-2 in front of 14,886 at HP Pavilion.
Cheechoo’s 17th and 18th goals of the year helped the Pacific Division-pacing Sharks to 76 points. San Jose, with 20 games to play, leads Dallas by six points, the Los Angeles Kings by seven.
The Sharks left the first period with a 2-1 lead, then powered to a 17-7 edge in shots on net in a scoreless second period. Cheechoo hit the game-winner 32 seconds into the third period, then found the cage from the high slot at the 16:42 mark to complete the scoring.
“We had some missed opportunities in the second period and (Columbus goalie) Pascal Leclaire made some pretty good saves,” San Jose coach Ron Wilson said of the middle 20 minutes. “(Mike) Ricci’s line took care of business in the third, really managed to seal the fate.”
“Cheech is on fire,” said Shark winger Scott Parker of the second-year player’s performance in the third period.
Cheechoo slipped between two Jacket defensemen for a breakaway attempt on the first shift of the period, only to be pulled down as he neared the crease. The fresh ice aided Cheechoo’s successful penalty shot high to the glove side on a backhander.
“I had my mind made up to try to freeze him with a shot, then hopefully go around him,” Cheechoo said of the first penalty shot of his professional career.
“I didn’t know for sure,” Cheechoo said when asked if he expected the penalty shot to be called. “I had a breakaway. It was either going to be a penalty shot or a penalty.”
“Alyn McCauley’s line dominated the first period, then Patty’s (Marleau) line the second, Ricci’s the third,” said Wilson.
McCauley’s 16th goal of the season tied the score at 1-1 with 4:56 gone in the first period. Columbus, now winless in its last 11 road games, had opened the scoring when defenseman Rostislav Klesla’s soft shot from the right boards skimmed between Evgeni Nabokov’s pads.
“Nabby, I’m sure, would like to have that first one back,” the coach said.
“I knew that the defenseman had lost his stick,” McCauley said of the equalizer. The center took a pass from Nils Ekman and dropped the puck around the lunging Leclaire.
Marco Sturm backhanded his 19th goal of the year over Leclaire by pouncing on a rebound of his own shot from the right circle for the 2-1 San Jose edge 19:20 into the first period on a power play.
“I was looking to pass to Vinnie (Damphousse), but nobody attacked me,” Sturm said of his decision to shoot instead of pass.
After Cheechoo’s penalty shot made it 3-1, the Blue Jackets responded with an Anders Erikssson goal with 9:50 left to play. Cheechoo made it a two-goal lead by turing a cntering pass from Ricci into a 20-foot rip over Leclaire’s right shoulder.
“Ricci did a great job down low and Thorty (Scott Thornton) drew a couple of guys at the net” to create space for the successful shot, said Cheechoo.
San Jose finished with a 38-26 edge in shots on net.
The Sharks visit the Vancouver Canucks Thursday, then take on the Pittsburgh Penguins Friday and St. Louis Blues Sunday.