Pavel Dorofeyev Lifts Vegas to 3-2 Edge in Stanley Cup Playoffs Bracket
Pavel Dorofeyev pushed the stanley cup playoffs bracket deeper into a series-turning night, scoring in overtime to lift the Vegas Golden Knights past the Anaheim Ducks 3-2. Earlier Tuesday, the Buffalo Sabres beat the Montreal Canadiens 3-2 in Montreal to even that series and put the pressure back on the home side.
Pavel Dorofeyev finishes it for Vegas
Vegas needed overtime to get the job done after the Ducks forced extra time with just more than three minutes left in regulation. Dorofeyev ended it with the winner, giving the Golden Knights a 3-2 lead in the series after a game that swung on special teams and late chances.
Beckett Sennecke opened the scoring for Anaheim on a power play, and Pavel Dorofeyev later answered with a power-play goal for Vegas. Tomas Hertl then put the Golden Knights in front before Olen Zellweger tied it for Anaheim, setting up Dorofeyev’s finish in the extra period.
Buffalo answers in Montreal
Buffalo’s win was built on a tighter defensive finish after Montreal had taken the lead with goals from Alex Newhook and Cole Caufield. Mattias Samuelsson started the scoring for Buffalo’s opponent in the game description, but Tage Thompson tied it and Zach Benson scored a power-play goal to swing the game back.
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen stopped 28 of 30 shots for Buffalo, and that steadiness kept the Sabres from letting Montreal turn Game 4 into a 3-1 series lead. Instead, the series is now a best-of-three battle, with Buffalo able to seize control in Thursday’s Game 5.
Tuesday changes the bracket pressure
Three teams had a chance Tuesday to move a single win away from the conference finals, and only Vegas came out with that edge in hand. Buffalo’s road win also mattered because it took away Montreal’s chance to close the door at home and reset the series after the Canadiens had led 2-1.
The result leaves one series tied and another tilted toward Vegas, with the Golden Knights now carrying a 3-2 lead and Buffalo returning home with a chance to grab control. For both opponents, the margin for error shrank in one night.
