LAS VEGAS — Brett Howden delivered in the biggest moment of the night. Howden scored a short-handed goal at 5:28 of double overtime to lift the Vegas Golden Knights to a dramatic 5-4 victory over the Utah Mammoth in Game 5, pushing Vegas one win away from advancing in their first-round playoff series.
The Golden Knights now hold a 3-2 edge in the best-of-seven matchup, with Game 6 set for Friday in Salt Lake City.
Dorofeyev’s Historic Night Forces Overtime
Vegas wouldn’t have reached overtime without a breakout performance from Pavel Dorofeyev. Dorofeyev scored a clutch six-on-five goal with just 52.7 seconds remaining in regulation, completing a hat trick the sixth in franchise playoff history and tying the game to force overtime. Coming into the night, Dorofeyev had just two career playoff goals.
The game was a war of momentum swings from start to finish. Vegas saw contributions across the lineup:
- Shea Theodore: 1 goal, 1 assist
- Jack Eichel: 2 assists
- Carter Hart: 33 saves
Utah answered at every turn, led by:
- Dylan Guenther: game-tying goal in third
- Clayton Keller: 2 assists
- Karel Vejmelka: 31 saves
The Mammoth surged late in the third period, with Guenther and Michael Carcone scoring to erase a Vegas lead and nearly steal Game 5 on the road.
Power Play Units Struggles Continue
Neither side found much rhythm on the power play.
- Combined: 1-for-10 on the night
- Vegas: 3-for-18 in the series
- Utah: 1-for-14 in the series
However, Vegas made the difference where it mattered most scoring its second short-handed goal of the series on Howden’s game-winner.
Physicality and Discipline
This wasn’t just a skill game it was a physical war. The teams combined for 86 hits, with both sides bringing playoff intensity that occasionally crossed the line:
- Utah penalties included infractions by Nick Schmaltz, Logan Cooley, and Mikhail Sergachev
- Vegas responded with its own mistakes, including a double-minor high stick from Cole Smith early in the third
The Golden Knights’ penalty kill held strong, including a crucial four-minute kill that kept the game within reach.
One Win Away
For Vegas, this was a statement win not just because of the result, but how they got it. They rallied multiple times, delivered in clutch moments, and leaned on depth to close it out in double overtime. Now, the Golden Knights head to Salt Lake City with a chance to close the series. And if Game 5 proved anything, it’s this: They’re built for playoff chaos.
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Robert LaMar is a Deputy Editor for Dice City Sports. You can follow him on X via @RobertLaMar26
