Vegas's special teams neutralized Colorado's home-ice power play inside the first period, and Carey Hart's goaltending carried that slim margin through 65 minutes. This was a road team winning a Central Division heavyweight game on discipline, shot suppression, and one clinical overtime finish.
⚡TURNING POINT
Stone's power-play equalizer at 13:47 of the first erased Colorado's lead before it could compound into a psychological and structural advantage for the home team. Answering a COL power-play goal with one of their own reset the game's leverage entirely, denying Colorado the momentum of protecting a lead at home.
🏆WHY VGK WON
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Hart conceded 1.20 fewer goals than league-average on 32 shots — in a 3-goal game decided by one, that margin was the difference.
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VGK's faceoff edge (51.9%) and 7 takeaways against 10 giveaways told the story of net puck management: Colorado's 17 giveaways repeatedly reset offensive sequences before they could build pressure.
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Eichel delivered the decisive moment at OT 1:19, converting before Colorado could establish zone presence.
📉WHY COL LOST
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Colorado's 17 giveaways undermined every sustained attack and handed VGK transition opportunities throughout.
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Blackwood conceded 0.10 goals above average on 29 shots — marginal, but in a one-goal overtime game, any above-average concession carries consequence.
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Colorado's 20 blocked shots signal sustained VGK pressure in the defensive zone, but their inability to generate clean looks at 5v5 in the third period cost them a regulation win.
Three Stars
Jack Eichel1st
VGK, C
1G4 SOGTOI 20:44+1
His shot volume and ice time placed him at the center of VGK's attack, and his OT goal closed the game before Colorado could respond.
Carter Hart2nd
VGK, G
SV% 0.93830 saves from 32 shots1.20 goals below league average
Hart's performance removed the margin for error Colorado needed to convert their territorial play into a win.
Pavel Dorofeyev3rd
VGK, R
1G4 SOGTOI 17:11+1
His even-strength goal gave VGK the lead in the second and his shot volume sustained offensive pressure across the game.
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Hart's 1.20-goal margin above average was the foundation; Colorado's 17 giveaways built the house for VGK to steal it in overtime.
