In a thrilling Game 5 that had Vegas Golden Knights fans on the edge of their seats, Brett Howden's shorthanded double-overtime goal stole the headlines—and rightfully so, giving his team a crucial 3-2 series lead over the Utah Mammoth. But before Howden could play hero, Pavel Dorofeyev was the one who kept the Golden Knights alive, and his story is one of resilience and redemption.
Dorofeyev delivered his first career playoff hat trick in a 5-4 victory, none bigger than the game-tying goal with just 52 seconds left in regulation. It was a moment that showcased everything that makes playoff hockey electrifying: pressure, skill, and an unrelenting will to win.
For Dorofeyev, this postseason has been a rollercoaster. After leading the Golden Knights in scoring for the second straight season with 37 regular-season goals, he found himself in the doghouse following a costly mistake in Game 4, spending most of the third period on the bench. But as any great athlete knows, the bounce-back is what defines you.
“Players make big plays at key times,” said head coach John Tortorella. “Perfect timing. He was fighting it a little bit, but he’s found his game. Hopefully, it’ll continue.”
Dorofeyev’s night started with a power-play snipe late in the first period. Set up by Tomáš Hertl, he found himself alone in the right circle and picked his spot with precision—a reminder of why he’s one of the most dangerous scorers on the team.
But it was his next two goals that truly highlighted his grit. Both came from a willingness to battle in the dirty areas around the net, where playoff hockey is won and lost.
“Everything around that net, so many things are happening. It’s a big part of playoff hockey—protecting your blue and getting to the other blue,” Tortorella explained. “The puck seems to find him when he’s on his game. I thought he’s done a really good job of the battles, too, as far as battling for pucks. You do stuff on the other part of the game, I think you get rewarded in the strength of the game.”
His second goal came off a slick drop-pass from Shea Theodore after Jack Eichel won an offensive zone draw. As Theodore pushed deeper into the zone, Dorofeyev drove hard to the net, and the reward was a textbook finish.
For fans and players alike, Dorofeyev’s performance is a testament to the mindset needed in the playoffs: when you’re down, you get back up, and when the moment comes, you seize it. As the Golden Knights look to close out the series, they’ll need that same fire from their star winger—and if Game 5 was any indication, he’s just getting started.