Howden's Short-Handed Slot Shot in 2OT Sends Vegas Past Utah and One Win From Round 2

Brett Howden buried it from the slot at 5:28 of the second overtime Wednesday night, and just like that, the Vegas Golden Knights were halfway to ending this series. A 5-4 victory over the Utah Mammoth gave Vegas a 3-2 lead heading into Friday's Game 6 in Salt Lake City, and the Golden Knights are one win away from moving on.

This game came down to late-period heroics on both sides. Pavel Dorofeyev, the Vegas right wing who had just two goals in 13 career playoff games before tonight, absolutely exploded. With 52.7 seconds left in regulation, he scored a six-on-five goal to tie it at 4-4 and force overtime. That's his third goal of the night. In fact, it's the sixth playoff hat trick in Vegas franchise history. Wild stuff for a guy who barely had a playoff resume coming into this series.

The Mammoth stormed back in the third period though. Dylan Guenther tied it at 5:54 on a rush play, and Michael Carcone made it 5-4 with a two-on-one conversion at 7:18 left. Both teams were desperate, and it showed. Utah and Vegas combined for 86 hits. The penalties kept piling up too. Utah took three in the first period alone: Nick Schmaltz with open-ice interference, Logan Cooley with a holding call, and Mikhail Sergachev with boarding. Vegas had their own discipline issues, including Cole Smith's double-minor high-sticking just 11 seconds into the third that could have been catastrophic, but the Golden Knights killed it off.

The Power Play Battle That Decided This Game

Here's the thing: both teams have been putrid on the power play. They combined to go just 1-for-10 in this game. But over the series, Vegas is 3-for-18 while Utah is sitting at 1-for-14. Vegas broke a 13-power play drought early when Dorofeyev scored from the right circle with 40.2 seconds left in the first period to make it 1-1. That goal, early as it was, kept Vegas alive.

Howden's winner was actually Vegas' second short-handed goal of the series. The Golden Knights forced the action that set it up, won the faceoff in Utah's zone, and Howden was ready. This is a team that was the NHL's best in the third period during the regular season with a plus-47 goal differential. They showed it tonight by staying resilient even when Utah kept clawing back.

What Happens Next

Carter Hart made 33 saves for Vegas. For Utah, Karel Vejmelka stopped 31. Shea Theodore had a goal and assist for the Golden Knights. Jack Eichel chipped in two assists. John Marino, Guenther, and Crouse scored for the Mammoth, and Clayton Keller had two assists.

Vegas heads to Salt Lake City Friday night with a chance to close this out. One more win and the Golden Knights move on. Utah needs to survive at home or face elimination.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.