Full Breakdown
Golden Knights Edge Mammoth in Double-Overtime Game 5
5/2/2026, 1:49:35 AM
Game 5 Decider
At T-Mobile Arena, the Vegas Golden Knights beat the Utah Mammoth 5-4 in double overtime. Brett Howden scored the short-handed winner at 5:28 of the second overtime, giving Vegas a 3-2 series lead.
Series Context
The series entered Game 5 with Utah leading 2-1 after a Game 4 overtime win. Vegas had rallied in Game 4 to force overtime and tie the series, making this the second straight game decided beyond regulation.
Key Players & Coaches
Golden Knights contributors included Howden, right wing Pavel Dorofeyev (who recorded a hat trick), center Jack Eichel, defenseman Shea Theodore and goaltender Carter Hart. Utah’s goals came from John Marino, Lawson Crouse, Dylan Guenther and Michael Carcone. Head coaches were John Tortorella (Vegas) and Andre Tourigny (Utah).
Game Timeline
John Marino scored at 1:00 of the first period. Dorofeyev tied on a power play at 0:41. Lawson Crouse gave Utah a 2-1 lead at 2:40; Dorofeyev equalized 1:37 later. Dorofeyev gave Vegas the lead at 15:37 and Shea Theodore extended it. Dylan Guenther tied at 5:54 of the third, Michael Carcone reclaimed the lead at 7:18, and Dorofeyev completed a hat trick with 52.7 seconds left to force overtime. Howden’s short-handed goal at 5:28 of second overtime sealed the win.
Statistics
Carter Hart stopped 34 of 38 shots, including all 12 overtime attempts. Utah’s Karel Vejmelka made 31 saves. The teams combined for 86 hits. Power-play was 1-for-10 (series 3-for-18 for Vegas, 1-for-14 for Utah). Vegas’ penalty kill was 5-for-5 in the game and 13-for-14 overall.
Special-Teams Impact
Dorofeyev’s hat trick featured a power-play goal ending Vegas’ 13-game PP drought; Howden’s short-handed goal was his second shorthanded tally. Utah’s 1-for-14 power-play record and three shorthanded goals allowed were decisive.
Official Statements
Tortorella praised the penalty kill for limiting Utah’s chances and noted power-play issues. Tourney expressed pride in his team’s intensity and pace, urging tighter defense. Eichel called Dorofeyev’s performance “huge.” Howden said he “blacked out” after the winner.
Criticism
Analysts called the Knights’ power-play “disjointed” and “fundamentally broken.” Utah’s failure to convert power-play chances and third-period defensive lapses were noted as weaknesses.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I kind of blacked out there,” — Brett Howden, forward, Golden Knights
- “That was a huge game for him,” — Jack Eichel, center, Golden Knights
- “I was so fired up, and good things happen when you go to the blue paint,” — Pavel Dorofeyev, right wing, Golden Knights
- “I'm so proud of the way we played, the way our guys played,” — Andre Tourigny, head coach, Utah Mammoth
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on Dorofeyev’s goal timing (52.7 seconds vs 53 seconds). Hart’s saves are listed as 34 in some reports and 33 in others. Penalty-minute details are missing.
Looking Ahead
Game 6 is Friday at 8 p.m. MDT in Salt Lake City. Utah must win to force Game 7; Vegas aims to close the series.
