SAN JOSE, Calif., April 1 (UPI) -- Jonathan Cheechoo recorded his third hat trick of the season Sunday to help the San Jose Sharks blast the Los Angeles Kings, 6-2.
After a 1-1 first period, San Jose had a four-goal outburst in the second -- when Cheechoo scored three times and Milan Michalek once.
Alexander Frolov of Los Angeles exchanged goals with San Jose's Patrick Rissmiller in the third to cap the scoring.
Joe Thornton had four assists, and Evgeni Nabokov stopped 18 of 20 shots for the Sharks, who have won three straight and five of their last six games.
San Jose has 102 points and is in the fifth spot in the Western Conference with three games to play.
Michael Cammalleri also scored once, while Sean Burke and Mathieu Garon combined to give up six goals on 29 shots for the Kings, who have lost four games in a row, and will miss the post-season.
