Game 6 between the Los Angeles Kings and the San Jose Sharks began with the Sharks needing a win to stay alive and head back to Los Angeles for a series-deciding Game 7. Joe Thornton scored in the first period on a 5-on-3 and T.J. Galiardi added another for the Sharks early in the second, but Dustin Brown would score a fluke goal late in the middle frame to make it a 2-1 lead for the Sharks heading into the final period.
Kings vs. Sharks Game 6 recap: San Jose defends 2-1 lead to force Game 7
The Sharks played a strong 3rd period and held on to a 1-goal lead to send the series back to Los Angeles for a final game.
The Sharks would have the first big chance of the final 20 minutes, after Logan Couture's line put on the pressure. Jonathan Quick was there to make the necessary saves, and showed his displeasure with the situation by tossing the puck in Couture's direction after the play:
The Sharks defended their 2-1 lead well in the third, and avoided being boxed into their zone the way they were in earlier games in the series when they held a lead late. The Sharks had nine shots in the final period, one more than the Kings, and San Jose had the best scoring chance of the final 20 minutes:
The Kings failed to get the equalizer in the third period as Antti Niemi stood strong, and the game ended 2-1.
Game 7 will be on Tuesday in Los Angeles.
Here are the three big questions we were tracking in Game 6:
Will the Sharks respond to being shutout again?
A 5-on-3 power play in the first period for the Sharks helped them find their offense early. Two goals isn't exactly an offensive explosion, but it was enough to get the victory.
Can Joe Pavelski find his scoring touch again?
Pavelski had the assist on Thornton's goal. T.J. Galiardi, another player for San Jose who hasn't been scoring much recently, got the game-winner.
Is Slava Voynov going to continue his excellent playoffs?
Voynov had three shots but no points, and he was a minus-1.
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