Howden’s short-handed goal in 2OT lifts Vegas
LAS VEGAS — Brett Howden scored a short-handed goal at 5:28 of the second overtime Wednesday night to give Vegas a 5-4 victory over the Utah Mammoth and put the Golden Knights one victory away from winning the first-round series. The Golden Knights take a 3-2 lead into their best-of-seven NHL playoffs series on Friday night in Salt Lake City.
Vegas right wing Pavel Dorofeyev 's six-on-five goal with 52.7 seconds left in regulation forced overtime and gave him the sixth playoff hat trick in franchise history. Also for the Golden Knights, Shea Theodore has a goal and assist and Jack Eichel had two assists.
Vegas ended a scoring drought of 13 power plays when Dorofeyev scored from the right circle to make it 1-1 with 40.2 seconds left in the first period. The Golden Knights twice rallied in the first two periods, and goals 1:38 apart by Dorofeyev and Theodore late in the second put them ahead 3-2.
It's the first time Vegas took the lead into the third period in this series, but the Golden Knights were the NHL's best third-period team in the regular season with a plus-47 goal differential. But those also sometimes resulted in unnecessary penalties, with the Mammoth taking three in the first period on an open-ice interference by Nick Schmaltz , a clothesline takedown of Ivan Barbashev by Logan Cooley officially called holding and a boarding minor on Mikhail Sergachev .
Analysis: Why This Matters
Fans tracking Golden Knights will want to follow this closely; even off-field news often shapes on-field outcomes.
Key Takeaways
- John Marino , Lawson Crouse and Dylan Guenther scored for the Mammoth and Clayton Keller had two assists.
- The Golden Knights take a 3-2 lead into their best-of-seven NHL playoffs series on Friday night in Salt Lake City.
- Also for the Golden Knights, Shea Theodore has a goal and assist and Jack Eichel had two assists.
Expect more reactions from coaches, players, and analysts as the story unfolds.
Source: ESPN Sports