Dorofeyev’s OT Goal Lifts Golden Knights Over Ducks, 3-2, in Series Lead

Pavel Dorofeyev emerged as the hero for the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday night, netting his second goal of the game just 4:10 into overtime to secure a thrilling 3-2 victory over the Anaheim Ducks. This win puts the Golden Knights one step closer to advancing to the Western Conference final, needing just one more win to reach that milestone for the first time since their Stanley Cup triumph in 2023.

As the series shifts to Game 6, set for Thursday night in Anaheim, the Ducks find themselves in a must-win situation. This marks their first playoff appearance in eight years, and they will aim to force a decisive Game 7 back in Las Vegas on Saturday.

Tomas Hertl, who had been mired in a 29-game goal drought stretching back to the regular season, found his scoring touch with two goals in as many games. He played a pivotal role in Dorofeyev’s first-period power-play goal, providing the primary assist. Jack Eichel also contributed significantly with two assists, including one on the game-winner.

On the other side, Ducks defenseman Olen Zellweger made a mark by scoring his first career playoff goal, tying the game at 2 with just 3:05 remaining in regulation. Beckett Sennecke continued his scoring streak, extending it to four games with a power-play goal of his own. Mason McTavish and Cutter Gauthier both tallied two assists, while Lukas Dostal was solid in net, making 29 saves.

The game took a physical turn early on when Ducks center Ryan Poehling was helped off the ice after a heavy check into the boards from Vegas defenseman Brayden McNabb. McNabb received a five-minute major for interference and was ejected from the game, leaving the Golden Knights without a key defenseman.

The Ducks capitalized on the resulting power play, with Sennecke scoring off a rebound. Dorofeyev quickly responded, taking the puck from Chris Kreider, maneuvering into the slot, and firing a shot past Dostal. Hertl’s rebound goal at 4:48 of the third period nearly sealed the win for Vegas, but Zellweger’s late-game heroics forced overtime, setting the stage for Dorofeyev’s dramatic finish.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.