Sharks get even against Ducks

San Jose’s Jonathan Cheechoo isn’t having nearly the impact he had last season when he led the NHL with 56 goals, but try telling that to the Ducks, who continue to be mistreated by the Sharks’ All-Star right winger.

Cheechoo scored twice against them for the second consecutive night, including the tying goal in the third period, and Milan Michalek got the game-winner with 3 minutes 46 seconds remaining to give the Sharks a 3-2 victory at the Honda Center.

The Ducks (33-14-8) saw their lead in the Pacific Division shrink back to three points over the Sharks as San Jose avenged a 7-4 defeat on Tuesday in the home-and-home showdown.

Shawn Thornton gave the Ducks a 2-1 lead with his fourth career goal in the opening minute of the third, but Cheechoo answered at the 10:36 mark with his second of the game and fourth in consecutive games against Anaheim.

“We weren’t going to be denied tonight,” Cheechoo said. “We knew how big this game was for us. We couldn’t lose two straight to these guys and expect to challenge them for the division.”

Michalek broke the tie on the power play when he got his stick on a point shot from defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic. The puck went between Ilya Bryzgalov’s legs just before Joe DiPenta’s hooking penalty was to expire.

“We were three seconds away from killing the penalty off,” Ducks Coach Randy Carlyle said. “We broke a stick in the corner. It was inevitable that it was going to go in. That’s the way it goes some nights.”

Bryzgalov made 26 saves as he got the start while Jean-Sebastien Giguere was given a rest. But Bryzgalov couldn’t get his stick down to the ice fast enough on the winning goal. “I thought it was just a straight shot,” Bryzgalov said. “I tried to close the five-hole. I was surprised they scored the goal.”

The Ducks had a chance to force overtime when they gained a six-on-four power play with one minute left in regulation on a delay-of-game penalty by San Jose forward Patrick Rissmiller. Teemu Selanne got two shots through but couldn’t put them on net.

The Sharks’ potent combo of Cheechoo and Joe Thornton capitalized on a turnover midway through the second period as Cheechoo banged Thornton’s setup pass into the net.

Referee Tim Peel waved it off to the surprise of both players, but when action finally stopped and the play was reviewed, Peel awarded the goal to Cheechoo, his 15th goal in his last 10 games against the Ducks.

“He’s a guy that you have to be aware of,” Ducks forward Rob Niedermayer said. “You can’t let a guy like that get around or get open in the slot and get chances. It helps to have a guy like Joe Thornton who creates space.”

Two minutes later, the Ducks were faced with a bigger challenge. Scott Niedermayer and Samuel Pahlsson were whistled for penalties six seconds apart and San Jose were presented with a five-on-three advantage for 1:54.

The Sharks got their NHL’s best power play cranked up again Tuesday by converting twice in the third period to end a one-for-41 slide. But the Ducks gave up only one shot on the disadvantage, earning a standing ovation from the announced sellout crowd of 17,466 as Niedermayer and Pahlsson exited the penalty box.

Flushed with renewed momentum, the Ducks went on the attack and tied the score when Selanne ripped a slap shot from above the right faceoff circle past Vesa Toskala on the stick side. It was Selanne’s 524th goal of his career, tying him with Bryan Trottier for 27th place all-time.

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Defenseman Sean O’Donnell was scratched because of flu.... General Manager Brian Burke is one of four NHL front office executives who are part of a new advisory group formed by USA Hockey to assist in the selection of future men’s national teams.

eric.stephens@latimes.com