Professional Indian Hockey Player, Jonathon Cheechoo, Named “Player of the Week”
October 28, 2005
(versus Kings)
LOS ANGELES - Jonathan Cheechoo and the San Jose Sharks turned Jason LaBarbera's first relief appearance into his first loss of the season.
Cheechoo swept the puck in during a goal-mouth scramble with 3.7 seconds left Friday night and Patrick Marleau had a goal and two assists to lead the Sharks to a 5-4 victory over LaBarbera and the Los Angeles Kings.
Cheechoo, Mark Smith and rookie Milan Michalek each had a goal and an assist for the Sharks, who scored on their first shot against both of Los Angeles' rookie goaltenders, including starter Mathieu Garon. The victory was their second straight after they began a six-game road trip with four losses.
Frolov got the equalizer at 3:04 of the third, one-timing Brown's centering pass behind rookie goalie Nolan Schaefer. But Cheechoo got the winner when he poked in the puck that was in the crease with a second swipe of his stick while LaBarbera was on his back.
``It was bouncing around when the pass came across to me, and I just kind of batted at it,'' Cheechoo said. ``Then it went over to Milan and he kind of to put it on net. I saw it bouncing around in the crease, so I just took a couple of whacks at it and it finally went in.''
Kings coach Andy Murray has alternated his goalies through the first 11 games. This was Garon's turn, after LaBarbera beat Anaheim 3-1 Tuesday night to improve to 5-0 and reduce his goals-against average to 1.40. But Garon was burned on the first shot of the game, as Marleau converted a perfect centering pass from Cheechoo.
October 29, 2005
(versus Flames)
SAN JOSE - With nine minutes left in regulation, the Calgary Flames were on their seventh power play – leading 1-0, but again it was the San Jose Sharks with the best opportunity. This time Calgary goaltender, Kiprusoff, had to turn away a point shot from Hannan with Ekman setting a screen out front.
Calgary Captain Jarome Iginla finally solved Schaefer seconds later when he tipped a shot from rookie Don Phaneuf. With seven minutes left, the Sharks trailed by two.
A delay of game penalty Chuck Kobesew moments later provided San Jose the opening they needed on Kiprusoff. A wrister from Marleau was tipped by right winger, Jonathon Cheechoo, out front and once again it was a one goal game and the home crowd was chanting for their club. San Jose still needed one more tally to at least force overtime.
As the clock approached the one-minute mark, Schaefer began looking for the call and with 1:07 left, he skated to the bench to bring out an extra attacker. Coach Ron Wilson used his timeout with 44 seconds left to try and set the winning play.
With 19 seconds left to play in the game, Brad Stuart received a perfect pass from Cheechoo, taking a quick slapshot from the top of the circle, which ricocheted off traffic in front of Kiprusoff and the game was off to overtime.
It marked the third consecutive game San Jose had scored an extra attacker goal.
In the overtime stanza, both squads skated hard for the extra point, with the best opportunity a three-on-one rush by San Jose, which was foiled by Kiprusoff. Both netminders held their ground and the first overtime shootout in HP Pavilion would take place.
Schaefer turned away Steven Reinprecht on the first shot with the help of the post only to have Kiprusoff snag Cheechoo’s wrister on the Sharks shot.
Iginla beat Schaefer for Calgary’s first successful try and Marleau’s shot rang of the cross bar. Amonte followed for Calgary and he could have clinched it, but Schaefer made a spectacular toe save, straining the groin of everyone in the building. Sturm beat Kiprusoff five-hole to keep the shootout going.
Kobesew saw Schaefer snag his shot and Ekman had an opportunity to take home the win. Ekman’s wrister beat Kiprusoff to the blocker side and San Jose had completed a miraculous comeback for the third consecutive game.
Cheechoo, who won the game with a final second score the previous night, was awarded the game’s “Number One Star” award selection.
Link to Report
Special thanks to Scott Barta for passing this on!
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Last updated on October 30, 2005