Pavel Dorofeyev Scores in OT and Vegas Is One Win Away From the Western Final

The Golden Knights are on the brink. Pavel Dorofeyev lit the lamp in overtime to give Vegas a 3-2 series lead over the Ducks, and now the Knights are sitting pretty with a chance to punch their ticket to the Western Conference Final. One more win and they're in.

This was a wild one. Dorofeyev came through when it mattered most, with Jack Eichel setting him up for the overtime winner. But here's the thing that makes this even more impressive: Dorofeyev had taken a painful blocked shot earlier in the series and still managed to be the one finishing the job in sudden death. That's the kind of grit you need in the playoffs.

Vegas Battles Back in a Shootout of a Game

Game 5 was an absolute barn burner. The Ducks weren't going down without a fight. Trevor Zellweger, looking like he absolutely belongs in this lineup, tied it up late in regulation with his first playoff goal. Before that, Nico Hertl had put Vegas ahead on a slick backhanded rebound. And earlier, Dorofeyev had already made his mark with a power-play goal on a terrific solo effort.

Anaheim answered back too. Dominik Sennecke cleaned up a rebound off a Gauthier chance for a power-play goal, and the Ducks were hanging around when they needed to. That's playoff hockey right there: teams trading blows, nobody backing down.

Vegas One Step Away

With a 3-2 series lead, the Golden Knights control their destiny. Eichel setting up the OT winner shows the depth of playmaking Vegas has. One more victory and they're headed to the Western Final. The Ducks have shown they can score and they can compete, but Vegas is holding the line and pushing toward the next round.

Game 6 is coming, and the Knights know what's at stake. One win gets them where they want to go.

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