The Vegas Golden Knights and Anaheim Ducks have given hockey fans everything they could ask for in this Western Conference semifinal—and it feels like this series deserves a Game 7.
For the first time in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Ducks face elimination as they host the Golden Knights in Game 6 on Thursday night. Puck drop is set for 9:30 p.m. ET, with a potential winner-take-all Game 7 back in Las Vegas on Saturday. The Colorado Avalanche await the victor in the next round.
This series has been a back-and-forth thriller, with neither team able to win consecutive games. That trend continued Tuesday night when the Golden Knights edged the Ducks 3-2 in overtime in Las Vegas to take a 3-2 series lead. It was the first overtime game of the set—and it delivered.
Pavel Dorofeyev was the undeniable star of the night. He scored Vegas’ first goal of the game and then buried the winner just 4:10 into overtime. Dorofeyev now leads the Golden Knights with seven goals this postseason, building on a regular season in which he also topped the team with 37 goals.
Jack Eichel, meanwhile, continues to be a playoff maestro. He recorded two assists Tuesday, including the primary helper on the overtime winner. Eichel now leads the NHL with 14 assists this postseason and has been especially clutch, tallying six assists on game-tying goals. Since his playoff debut in 2023, his 11 assists on game-tying goals trail only Connor McDavid’s 12 among all players.
Eichel’s career average of 0.92 assists per playoff game (over 51 games) ranks fourth all-time among players with at least 15 postseason appearances. Thursday night, he has a chance to make history: he can become the first player in Golden Knights franchise history—and just the sixth American-born player in NHL history—to record three straight multi-assist playoff games. He’s listed at +300 odds to tally at least two assists.
Tuesday’s win also added to Vegas’ reputation as a team that thrives in tight contests. It was the franchise’s 27th one-goal playoff victory since entering the league in 2017-18, the second-most in the NHL during that span. The Golden Knights also won their third straight overtime game this postseason (following Games 4 and 5 in Round 1 against Utah), tying the longest such streak in team history. They dominated the extra frame, outshooting Anaheim 5-0.
History is on Vegas’ side, too. The Golden Knights are a perfect 5-0 in franchise history when winning Game 5 of a tied series, closing out each of those series in Game 6—including their first-round victory over Utah. Overall, Vegas is 6-3 in Game 6 when leading a series 3-2, including 5-2 on the road.
The Golden Knights played Tuesday without forward … and still found a way to win. Now they’ll look to close out the Ducks in Anaheim, but don’t count out a hungry home team that’s battled every step of the way. This series has been too good to end quietly.