NHL announces players of the week

NEW YORK, April 17 (UPI) -- Two players for the San Jose Sharks, center Joe Thornton and forward Jonathan Cheechoo, shared honors Monday as the NHL Offensive Player of the Week.

Calgary Flames netminder Miikka Kiprusoff was the Defensive Player of the Week.

Cheechoo and Thornton have been critical to the Sharks' success since Thornton's arrival from Boston earlier this season. Last week, they were involved, together or separately, in 16 of the Sharks' 19 goals.

This was Kiprusoff's third time this season for weekly defensive honors. He made 32 saves in a 3-0 win over Anaheim on April 11 and stopped 23 saves two days later against Colorado in a 2-0 victory. He capped the week by turning aside 25 shots in a 2-1 shootout loss at Los Angeles.