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Cheechoo's hat trick lifts Sharks past Predators

Feb 10, 2008 - 7:00 AM SAN JOSE, California (Ticker) -- Jonathan Cheechoo's ninth career hat trick netted Ron Wilson his 500th coaching victory.

Cheechoo scored three goals, including the game-winner with just under five minutes remaining in the third period, and also added an assist as the San Jose Sharks edged the Nashville Predators, 4-3, on Saturday.

Wilson became the 11th NHL coach to reach 500 wins, tying legendary Montreal Canadiens coach Toe Blake and moving one behind Pat Burns, who guided Montreal, Toronto, Boston and New Jersey.

"It's hard to talk about," said Wilson, who improved to 500-440-124 in 1,064 career games with the Anaheim Ducks, Washington Capitals and Sharks. "It's hard for me to believe that Toe Blake had 500 wins, and I have 500 wins."

The 52-year-old Wilson has 188 victories with the Sharks, moving him within four of tying Darryl Sutter for the most in franchise history.

Wilson can thank Cheechoo for his latest triumph.

With the game tied at 3-3, Cheechoo backhanded the puck past goaltender Chris Mason with 4:55 remaining in the third for his 14th goal of the season and ninth in 11 games.

"It's a special milestone for him to reach 500. It's pretty amazing," Cheechoo said. "It's nice to help that out."

"It was a heck of a play," Mason said. "(All-Star Joe) Thornton chipped it right through and (Milan) Michalek touch-passed it back door, then Cheechoo spun off and got the puck in. It was a great play."

Michalek also scored for San Jose, which won for the sixth time in its last eight games.

Vernon Fiddler had two goals and an assist and Scott Nichol also scored for Nashville, which fell to 7-3-2 over its last 12 contests.

Cheechoo opened the scoring 4:48 into the first period.

After Mason mishandled the puck behind the net, Thornton gained possession and fed Cheechoo just outside the crease. The former Maurice Richard Trophy winner deflected the puck between Mason's pads and into the net for a 1-0 lead.

"We did not play very well," Mason said. "We have a tough time in this building. If you're not going to come in here and be willing to work, it is going to be tough to get a lot of shots and a lot of pressure."

Fiddler leveled the game just 2:12 later, blasting a slap shot from the right faceoff circle over All-Star goaltender Evgeni Nabokov's outstretched glove, off the crossbar and into the net.

"Nabokov did not come out on me," Fiddler said. "So I was trying to get the puck up, and it went in."

Fiddler gave Nashville a 2-1 lead by launching a low shot that went under Nabokov's pad at 7:12 of the second period. But Cheechoo drew San Jose even with his second goal just over six minutes later.

Thornton brought the puck from behind the net and snapped a pass to Marc-Edouard Vlasic at the left point. Cheechoo deflected the defenseman's one-timer past Mason for his 13th of the season.

Michalek's goal 7:17 into the third period gave San Jose a 3-2 lead.

Cheechoo chipped the puck forward at the blue line and Michalek corralled it before skating in and beating Mason for his 18th goal.

"The drop to Milan is something you try every once in a while," Cheechoo said. "He's got so much speed. With 1-on-1, it's hard for a defenseman who is moving, let alone standing still, to contain him."

Nashville tied the game at 11:41, when Fiddler found Nichol in the right circle for a slapper that beat Nabokov.

"When it was tied, 3-3, I thought we had good momentum," Nashville coach Barry Trotz said. "I thought we had gotten to a position where we could get a point tonight."

The game was the 1,300th of veteran Sharks center Jeremy Roenick's career.