Vegas won because Hart conceded 1.60 goals below average on 36 shots, providing the margin that offset Anaheim's shot volume and carried the Golden Knights to overtime.
β‘TURNING POINT
Vegas's power-play conversion at 16:13 of the first period erased Anaheim's lead and returned the game to parity before a second period that Anaheim would dominate territorially. Without that equalizer, Anaheim carries momentum and a lead into a period where they outshot Vegas 17β6 β the goal prevented that structural advantage from compounding into a decisive cushion.
πWHY VGK WON
1
Goaltending: Hart conceded 1.60 goals below league average on 36 shots β in a 3-goal regulation game, that margin was the difference between winning and elimination.
2
Special Teams: VGK converted their only power-play opportunity at 100% efficiency β perfect execution on limited chances is more decisive than Anaheim's 1/2 at 50%.
3
Individual Finishing: Dorofeyev scored twice on 4 shots including the overtime winner β Vegas's ability to convert at the critical moments compensated for ceding shot share overall.
πWHY ANA LOST
1
Goaltending Margin: Dostal conceded 0.20 goals below league average β his performance did not cost the team, but it provided no buffer over Hart's margin, leaving Anaheim's shot volume advantage unrewarded.
2
Shot Share Without Conversion: ANA out-shot Vegas 36β32 and dominated P2 17β6, yet scored only twice β territorial dominance that generates no goals is neutral leverage at best.
3
Discipline: ANA took 2 PIM versus VGK's 15, yet VGK converted their single power play while Anaheim's larger opportunity volume produced only 1 goal β penalty kill success meant nothing when the opponent needed only one chance.
Three Stars
Pavel Dorofeyev1st
VGK, R
2G 0A2 points4 shots on goal1 PPG
His two goals β including the overtime winner β were the only reason Vegas had a lead to defend at any point in this game.
Tomas Hertl2nd
VGK, C
1G 1A2 points3 hitsTOI 14:41
Hertl contributed to both Vegas regulation goals, providing the connective play that built each scoring sequence.
Carter Hart3rd
VGK, G
SV% 0.94434 saves on 36 shotsTOI 64:10
Hart conceded 1.60 goals below league average β without that margin, Anaheim's 36-shot output wins this game.
Β·Momentum Shift
Anaheim flipped territorial control completely in the second period, generating 17 shots against Vegas's 6 after being out-shot 10β8 in the first β yet produced zero goals from that dominance. The inability to convert a commanding 11-shot advantage in the second neutralized the shift entirely and left the game tied entering the third, where Vegas's finishing quality ultimately prevailed.
