Cheechoo train getting Sharks back on track
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Jonathan Cheechoo is starting to find his scoring touch again and the San Jose Sharks are showing their teeth by closing in on the Anaheim Ducks at the top of the Pacific division standings.
With five goals in his last four games and a four-point night in a 6-5 win over the St Louis Blues on Tuesday, the Cheechoo train, as the right winger is known by San Jose fans, is starting to roll and so are the Sharks with two wins in three games.
Winner of the Maurice 'Rocket' Richard Trophy as the NHL's leading goal scorer last season with a team record 56 tallies, Cheechoo has found the back of the net just 21 times this campaign and admits to feeling some pressure to validate his goal scoring credentials.
But of more concern to Cheechoo, the first member of the Moose Cree First Nation to play in the NHL, has been his defensive shortcomings and a minus-nine defensive rating.
"It didn't start off well for me," said Cheechoo during a conference call on Thursday. "Lately it's seemed I've been getting a lot more chances and a lot more scoring opportunities.
"There was a little bit of pressure (to score goals), but for the most part the team, was very supportive of me and want me to continue to improve other parts of my game.
"If I'm not scoring, they want me to be responsible defensively.
"That's part of my game that I was disappointed in but it's starting to get better the last couple months or so, and hopefully I'll just continue to improve that part."
LETHAL PARTNERSHIP
Cheechoo and his playmaking team mate Joe Thornton are starting to show the same chemistry they displayed last season when they formed one of the NHL's most lethal scoring partnerships, both registering a goal and three assists in the 6-5 win over the Blues.
Thornton, who was obtained in a trade from the Boston Bruins last season, immediately clicked with Cheechoo, winning the Hart trophy as the NHL's MVP and looks poised to take another run at the NHL scoring title having put up 59 assists -- second only to the Pittsburgh Penguins' Sidney Crosby.
"He (Thornton) loves to pass and I love to shoot," said Cheechoo. "We fit together really well right off the start.
"We play that type of style down along the boards working the puck. He's such a great passer, that if you get to the open spots he's going to find you."
After reaching the conference semifinals last season, the Sharks were tipped as Stanley Cup contenders this year and have started to flex their muscles by trimming the Ducks' lead at the top of the Pacific standings to a single point going into Thursday night's games.
"I think we still have more to give," said Cheechoo. "I think we've played good for stretches and we've played good for parts of games, but when we start to play a whole 60 minutes together and start to play well consistently, I think that's when you'll see our best hockey."
