Sharks take 2-0 lead in series with Avs

Jonathan Cheechoo's between-the-legs goal ensured the 4-1 victory.
SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) -- Jonathan Cheechoo's goal was a thing of beauty. The rest of San Jose's latest playoff triumph was the result of old-fashioned hard work.
Patrick Marleau scored his NHL-leading seventh goal of the postseason, and Cheechoo ensured the victory with a breathtaking between-the-legs goal in the Sharks' 4-1 win over the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday in Game 2 of their second-round playoff series.
Marleau, Cheechoo and Vincent Damphousse each had a goal and an assist, and Evgeni Nabokov recovered after getting flattened by Peter Forsberg to make 20 saves as the Sharks took a 2 games to none lead in the series.'
Empty-net goal
Wayne Primeau added an empty-net goal for the Sharks, who are two victories away from the franchise's first trip to the Western Conference finals. Except for Cheechoo's highlight-reel goal, not much was flashy about the Sharks -- but they headed to Game 3 in Denver on Monday with all the momentum.
Niko Dimitrakos had two assists, including an exceptional pass to Marleau to set up the captain's goal in the final minute of the second period. Dimitrakos has five assists in the Sharks' two second-round games, both models of San Jose's relentless discipline, puck possession and strong defense.
Milan Hejduk scored for the Avalanche, who lost the first two games of a playoff series for the first time since the 1999 conference semifinals. David Aebischer improved on his subpar opening-game performance with 20 saves, but he had practically no chance to stop any of the Sharks' goals.
The Sharks recovered from an early deficit and led 2-1 entering the third period, but weathered several Colorado rushes until they earned a power play.
Defenseman Brad Stuart then took the puck low and passed to Cheechoo, who put his stick backward between his legs and flipped a shot past Aebischer's glove in one fluid motion.
Set up goal
Matthew Barnaby set up Hejduk's fourth goal of the postseason.
Aebischer, pulled midway through Game 1 after allowing five goals on 17 shots, made several good saves early -- and after being mostly invisible in the opener, Forsberg played his usual dominant game. That led to several spectacular plays, but his aggression also resulted in two key interference penalties in the second period.
Damphousse scored on the power play following Forsberg's first penalty of the period, and his apparent goal while running over Nabokov moments later was waved off. Forsberg complained bitterly on his way to the box.
Avalanche captain Joe Sakic also set up Cheechoo's goal with a boarding penalty in the third.
With the return of All-Star Alex Tanguay, who missed the last two games with a knee injury, Colorado scratched nine-time All-Star Teemu Selanne, who had just 16 goals in the regular season.
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