AVS’ NEXT OPPONENT

Sharks, Knights go to Game 7

LAS VEGAS» The Avalanche will have to wait two more days to find out its opponent in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Martin Jones had the playoff performance of his life, but Tomas Hertl made sure the Sharks’ season didn’t end Sunday.

Hertl scored with 8:43 left in the second overtime to give the Sharks a 2-1 win over the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 6 of their first-round playoff series.

With the Sharks killing a slashing penalty to Barclay Goodrow, called with 9:14 left in the second overtime, Hertl came across the blue line and fired a shot that eluded Golden Knights goalie Marc-Andre Fleury at the 11:17 mark.

Sharks goalie Martin Jones finished with a remarkable 58 saves, as the Sharks leveled the first-round series at three wins apiece and forced a Game 7 on Tuesday night at SAP Center in San Jose.

The winner will host the eighth-seeded Avalanche for the first two games of a secondround series before going to the Pepsi Center for Games 3 and 4. When that series starts has yet to be determined.

The Sharks and Golden Knights both had their chances to win in the first overtime, with the Sharks’ best chance coming with 3:20 left.

After a wild scramble, Timo Meier put a shot toward the net with Fleury down and out of position. But with the puck just inches from the goal line, both Colin Miller and Shea Theodore slid to stop it. A quick review by officials determined that there was no goal.

Just moments later, Jones made a point-blank stop on Jonathan Marchessault.

Fleury finished with eight saves in overtime, and Jones had seven. The Sharks had 29 blocked shots through three periods and overtime. The Golden Knights had 28.

The Sharks were outshot 17-4 in the third period, but didn’t allow the go-ahead goal despite a seemingly relentless Golden Knights forecheck.

Bruins 4, Maples Leafs 2.

TORONTO» Brad Marchand had two goals and an assist as the Bruins forced a Game 7 in their first-round playoff series.

Torey Krug and Jake DeBrusk also scored, and David Pastrnak had two assists to help Boston avoid elimination. Tuukka Rask stopped 22 shots.

The Bruins will host the deciding contest on Tuesday night.