Sharks defeat Golden Knights in 2OT in Game 6, avoid elimination

LAS VEGAS -- Tomas Hertl scored a shorthanded goal 11:17 into the second overtime, and the San Jose Sharks avoided elimination with a 2-1 win against the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 6 of the Western Conference First Round at T-Mobile Arena on Sunday.

San Jose has won two straight games to extend the best-of-7 series and will host Game 7 on Tuesday.
The Sharks were killing a slashing penalty called on Barclay Goodrow 31 seconds earlier.
WATCH: [Sharks vs. Golden Knights Game 6 highlights | Complete series coverage]
Hertl got the puck in the center circle after a pass from Marc-Edouard Vlasic, skated into the zone, and scored from above the left face-off circle.
It was the first time in NHL history that a multiple overtime game was decided by a shorthanded goal.
"At first when I got it, I was already a little bit tired," Hertl said. "I was thinking maybe just dump it in and change, but I saw the space. I just took a couple of steps and tried to shoot it. Maybe [Vegas defenseman Shea Theodore] hit my puck a little bit. If you don't try, you'll never know. Somehow it got through."
Martin Jones made 58 saves, the most in San Jose history.
"We knew [Jones] was on," Sharks captain Joe Pavelski said. "You could feel it, for sure. You're looking at the scoreboard and the shots are what they are, but [Jones] was moving, seeing the puck. Guys weren't getting behind us. We hung in there, and he gave us enough to get that win."

Jonathan Marchessault scored for the Golden Knights, and Marc-Andre Fleury made 27 saves.
"It's a tough one," Marchessault said. "I felt like we were the better team. Sometimes those games feel a little tricky. We kept buzzing and kept going. They get one little crack at it and sneak one by [Fleury]."
After allowing 11 goals in Games 2-4 and being pulled twice, Jones has a 1.19 goals-against average and .967 save percentage in the past two.
"It was a good game," Jones said. "We stuck with it the whole night. Give our guys a lot of credit. We had some huge penalty kills in overtime and the third. Everybody chipped in today."
It is the first time the Sharks have forced a Game 7 after trailing 3-1 in a Stanley Cup Playoff series.
The Golden Knights have lost consecutive closeout games after going 3-0 last season. It will be the first Game 7 in their history.
Logan Couture gave San Jose a 1-0 lead with nine seconds left in the first period. He took a pass from Timo Meier with speed just outside the Vegas zone and scored from above the left hash marks.

It was the latest a first goal has been scored in the series, surpassing Pavelski's at 14:42 of the first in Game 1.
Marchessault tied it 1-1 at 11:20 of the second period when he kicked the rebound of a Theodore shot to his stick and scored with a backhand over Jones' right pad.
It was Marchessault's third consecutive game with a goal.
The Golden Knights outshot the Sharks 44-20 through the third period.
"I like the way our team's played," Vegas coach Gerard Gallant said. "We're playing good hockey. It's two tough teams. We're ready to go. We'll be ready to go, and it'll be another battle."

They said it

"That was our goal: Win one game at home, get some rest, come in here and find a way to win in this building. We get it back to Game 7. Guys will be ready. We like being on home ice for Game 7, but there's a lot of work, a lot of effort that will need to go into it. It's not over yet." -- Sharks captain Joe Pavelski
"It's a Game 7. I don't think it'll be quite as fast as the first couple of periods in tonight's game, but I think it'll be two teams grinding it out, trying to advance. It's do or die in the next game." -- Golden Knights coach Gerard Gallant

Need to know

There have been no lead changes in the series. … Sharks defenseman Brent Burns played a game-high 42:04. … Defenseman Brayden McNabb led the Golden Knights with 35:34. Vlasic (37:14) and Sharks defensemen Erik Karlsson (36:40) and Justin Braun (36:12) each played more than McNabb. … Vegas' top line of Max Pacioretty, Paul Stastny and Mark Stone was held without a point for the second consecutive game. The forwards combined for 28 points (12 goals, 16 assists) in the first four games. … Hertl has scored five goals in the series, including three in the past two games. He scored twice in Game 5, a 5-2 victory at SAP Center on Thursday. … The Sharks are 2-0 in multiple overtime games against the Golden Knights. They won 4-3 in the second overtime in Game 2 of the 2018 Western Conference Second Round at T-Mobile Arena.

What's next

Game 7 of Western Conference First Round at SAP Center on Tuesday (10 p.m. ET; NBCSN, SN, SN360, TVAS, NBCSCA, ATTSN-RM)