Dorofeyev, Hertl look to contribute offensively in Game 3
Two of the Golden Knights' biggest offensive weapons have been kept under wraps by Utah in the first two games.
Vegas Golden Knights right wing Pavel Dorofeyev (16) shoots against the Utah Mammoth during the first period of game one of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at T-Mobile Arena. LAS VEGAS — So far, the Vegas Golden Knights have managed to get by without their leading goal-scorer denting the scoresheet along with one of their veteran centers. But if the Knights are to be successful in their opening-round Stanley Cup Playoff series with Utah, it stands to reason their going to need some offense from Pavel Dorofeyev and Tomas Hertl.
Dorofeyev, who led the team in goals with 37, is still searching for his first point of the series, which is 1-1 heading into Friday’s Game 3 at the Delta Center. He has taken a combined five shots in the first two games while remaining on John Tortorella’s first power play unit and skating with Mitch Marner and Brett Howden on Vegas’ No. 2 line.
“You always want to help the team win, score goals,” Dorofeyev said after Thursday’s practice at City National Arena. “Sometimes, it’s not going your way and you’ve got to find other ways to help the team. ” Hertl, who was sixth in scoring during the regular season with 56 points, hasn’t scored since March 4 at Detroit.
He does have an assist in this year’s playoffs and appeared to have scored in Game 2 Tuesday. But the goal was credited to Mark Stone after the puck banked off Mikhail Sergachev’s skate and past Karel Vejmelka. But unlike Dorofeyev, who as a winger can only do so much to help, Hertl gets more opportunities to contribute by being a center.
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