NHL: San Jose Sharks upstage Los Angeles Kings to force Game 7

The decider between the Pacific Division foes is on Tuesday back in Los Angeles, where the Kings have an enviable record.

San Jose Sharks, in white, held off a Los Angeles Kings charge to win Game 6. Tony Avelar / AP Photo

The San Jose Sharks held off the Los Angeles Kings 2-1 on Sunday to force a Game 7 in their NHL Western Conference semi-final series.

Joe Thornton scored the opening goal in the first period and TJ Galiardi gave the Sharks a 2-0 lead early in the second before Dustin Brown pulled one back for the visitors.

The deciding Game 7 between the Pacific Division foes is back in Los Angeles on Tuesday.

"I felt we did a great job right from the start. The boys had a good jump," San Jose defenceman Scott Hannan said in a televised interview. "We were aggressive and didn't sit back. We accepted their push, but I thought the guys gave a great effort tonight."

Los Angeles, the defending Stanley Cup champions, grabbed a 2-0 series lead then stretched it to 3-2 last week, but the Sharks have refused to go away.

San Jose goaltender Antti Niemi made 24 saves while his Kings counterpart Jonathan Quick also had 24 but could not halt his team's struggles on the road.

Los Angeles are undefeated at the Staples Center this post-season but have lost 11 of their last 12 games away from home ice.

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