Vegas won because Vejmelka conceded 1.40 goals above average while Dorofeyev's hat trick and a shorthanded OT winner sealed a 5β4 result Vegas never had to chase.
β‘TURNING POINT
Dorofeyev's power-play goal at 19:19 of the first period erased Utah's lead with 41 seconds left in the period, denying the Coyotes the psychological and structural benefit of entering the first intermission ahead. Vegas converting on the man-advantage at that moment rewired the game's pressure dynamic heading into the second, where they then outscored Utah 2β1.
πWHY VGK WON
1
Goaltending: Hart conceded 0.20 goals above average on 38 shots β in a one-goal overtime game, that margin kept Vegas alive through a third period in which Utah outscored them 2β1.
2
Individual scoring: Dorofeyev scored 3 goals on 5 shots across 23:42 of ice time, including the 19:07 equalizer that forced overtime β without that goal, Utah closes out regulation.
3
Shorthanded winner: Howden converted at 5:28 of OT shorthanded, scoring on 1 shot in 20:29 of ice time β Vegas won the game while killing a penalty, a margin no tactical plan accounts for.
πWHY UTA LOST
1
Power play: 0-for-5 (0.0%) β Utah generated five man-advantage opportunities in a one-goal game and converted none, a failure that directly cost them the regulation win they had twice.
2
Goaltending: Vejmelka conceded 1.40 goals above average on 36 shots β in a five-goal Vegas performance, that margin was the structural reason Utah couldn't protect leads.
3
Giveaways: 22 giveaways to Vegas's 26 β Utah's puck management repeatedly reset offensive pressure and created the transition exposure that enabled VGK's late equalizer and overtime penalty situation.
Three Stars
Brett Howden1st
VGK, C
1G1 SOG20:29 TOI+15 hits
His shorthanded overtime winner β scored on his only shot β ended the game in the least expected situation and is the single act that separates a Utah win from a Vegas win.
Pavel Dorofeyev2nd
VGK, R
3G5 SOG23:42 TOI+2including 1 PPG
His three goals were each load-bearing β the equalizer to open the game, the go-ahead in the second, and the tying goal at 19:07 that forced overtime.
Shea Theodore3rd
VGK, D
1G 1A4 SOG34:25 TOI+2
Logging the most ice time among VGK skaters, his goal and assist in the second period directly built the cushion Vegas needed to absorb Utah's third-period comeback.
