Pavel Dorofeyev of the Vegas Golden Knights celebrates after scoring the game-winning goal against the Anaheim Ducks during Tuesday’s Game 5 in Las Vegas. (Candice Ward / Associated Press)
The Ducks are one loss away from elimination after Pavel Dorofeyev delivered a dramatic overtime winner, lifting the Vegas Golden Knights to a 3-2 victory in Tuesday’s second-round playoff clash. Dorofeyev, who also opened the scoring on a power play in the first period, deflected a pass from Jack Eichel just inside the left post at 4:10 of overtime, concluding the longest game of the series.
The victory gives Vegas a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series ahead of Game 6 on Thursday in Anaheim, where the Ducks could see their season come to an end.
Beckett Sennecke and Dorofeyev traded power-play goals in the first period, while Tomas Hertl for the Golden Knights and Olen Zellweger for Anaheim each found the net in the third period. Zellweger’s tally with 3:05 left in regulation forced overtime.
Anaheim struck first, with Sennecke scoring midway through the opening frame. The goal came at a cost, however, as forward Ryan Poehling was lost for the night after absorbing a heavy hit from defenseman Brayden McNabb along the boards nine minutes in. McNabb was assessed a five-minute interference penalty and a 10-minute game misconduct, enabling Sennecke to bang in his second power-play goal in as many games about 3½ minutes later. It was Sennecke’s fifth goal of the playoffs and the third power-play tally allowed by Vegas’ once-dominant penalty kill in five opportunities.
Two minutes later, goaltender Lukas Dostal—arguably playing his best game of the series—preserved the lead with a crucial save, stretching out to rob Vegas winger Mitch Marner on a breakaway. But Pavel Mintyukov was called for slashing on the play, handing Vegas a power play, and Dorofeyev quickly capitalized with a wrist shot from between the circles for his second man-advantage goal in as many games. Eichel earned an assist on the tying goal, his league-leading 13th of the playoffs.
Vegas also lost Dorofeyev for much of the second period after he was hit by a slap shot from Jackson LaCombe. The Russian forward was treated by a trainer and helped to the bench but returned before the second intermission and ultimately ended up scoring the game-winner.
The Ducks peppered Vegas goalie Carter Hart with 17 shots in a scoreless second period, during which the Golden Knights went nearly eight minutes without registering a shot on goal.
Vegas came out more aggressive in the opening minutes of the third period, and it paid off when Hertl corralled a loose puck just outside the crease and swatted it past Dostal to put the Golden Knights ahead. The play began with defenseman Rasmus Andersson firing toward the net from the right-wing boards following a faceoff. Dostal made the stop, but the rebound hit the skate of Ducks defenseman Ian Moore and bounced to Hertl, who nudged it in as he fell to the ice.
Zellweger, receiving ample space inside the left circle, evened the score by lining a wrist shot over Hart’s left shoulder and off the crossbar late in the period. The defenseman made his playoff debut in Game 4, recording an assist before scoring his first postseason goal.