DUCKS GET SPLIT VS. SHARKS LOSE 2ND GAME OF BACK-TO-BACK.

Byline: T.J. BERKA

Staff Writer

ANAHEIM -- The Ducks were able to break serve Tuesday night with a win in San Jose.

The Sharks returned the favor Wednesday at Honda Center, leaving both teams where they started.

For the second consecutive night, San Jose had a big third period against the Ducks. It didn't matter much the night before, but two third- period goals were what the Sharks needed Wednesday to grab a 3-2win.

The win pulled San Jose (35-19-1, 71 points) within three points of the first-place Ducks (33-14-8, 74) in the Pacific Division, just where it was before the Ducks' 7-4 win Tuesday at SanJose.

"We said before the game that (Tuesday's win) didn't mean anything unless we came back and got some points out of this one," Ducks center Rob Niedermayer said. "That was a tough one to lose."

The Ducks had a chance to put some distance between themselves and San Jose, taking a 2-1 lead 44 seconds into the third period on a rare goal by Shawn Thornton.

Thornton's second goal of the season came off a rebound from Corey Perry's shot, as he picked up the loose puck and pushed it past San Jose goaltender Vesa Toskala.

But the Ducks weren't able to hold the lead, thanks in large part to Sharks right wing Jonathan Cheechoo.

Cheechoo, who scored twogoals in the third period Tuesday, scored two more Wednesday, including the tying goal with 9:24 left in regulation.

"He's been a thorn in our side," Ducks coach Randy Carlyle said. "He scored two again tonight, and we've got to find a way to limit his offensive production."

Milan Mihaleck put San Jose ahead with 3:46 left, as he redirected a wrist shot from the point by Marc-Edouard Vlasic with three seconds left in a power play.

"I thought it was just a straight shot," Ducks goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov said. "I don't know what happened. I stayed in front of the player and I didn't think someone tipped the puck. Maybe they did, I don't know."

Cheechoo scored his first goal for San Jose with 10:38left in the second on a bizarre play. It came off a one-timer, as Joe Thornton created space to the left of the Ducks' goal before feeding a wide-open Cheechoo.

But Cheechoo's shot bounced out of the goal as quickly as it entered it, with Ducks defenseman Francois Beauchemin picking up the loose puck and heading down the ice.

The referees initially ruled no goal and play continued for 1:36 before the puck was stopped. After an officials rule, Cheechoo and the Sharks were rewarded the goal and the time was reset to 10:38.

Teemu Selanne notched his 32nd goal on a slapshot from just inside the San Jose blue line with 5:08 left in the second to tie the score 1-1.

"They played hard and we played pretty hard," Ducks defenseman Scott Niedermayer said. "In close games like that it comes down to a couple mistakes or breaks either way. We were guilty of a couple of mistakes that led to goals for them."

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Ducks right wing George Parros, left, and San Jose right wing Scott Parker fight during the first period Wednesday.

Mark Avery/Associated Press