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 3-2 win.

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

The Ducks had a chance to get some real 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 year came off a rebound off Corey Perry's shot, as he picked up the loose puck and pushed it past San Jose goaltender Vesa Toskala.

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

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

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

San Jose scored five goals in the third period the last two nights and only allowed two from the Ducks.

It was able to kill off a two-man Ducks advantage in the final minute of the third, as the Ducks pulled goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov after San Jose was whistled for a penalty.

It was a penalty kill on a two-man disadvantage in the second period that spurred the Ducks, at least for a while.

Down 1-0 with 8:15 left in the second period, Scott Niedermayer and Sammi Pahlsson were whistled for penalties within six seconds of each other, giving the Sharks a 5-on-3 advantage.

The Ducks killed the penalty, much to the delight of the sellout crowd.

That crowd erupted even more with 5:08 left in the second, as Teemu Selanne notched his 32nd goal on a slapshot from just inside the San Jose blue line to tie the score at 1-1.

Cheechoo scored his first goal for San Jose with 10:38 left 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 with the goal and the time was reset to 10:38.

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Photo:

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

Mark Avery/Associated Press