Theodore's OT winner helps Knights even series with Mammoth

Vegas Golden Knights right wing Pavel Dorofeyev (16) skates with the puck against Utah Mammoth defenseman Nate Schmidt (88) during the second period in game four of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Delta Center. SALT LAKE CITY — It figured we were due for a wild affair in this opening-round Stanley Cup Playoff series between the Vegas Golden Knights and Utah Mammoth. Oh boy, did we get a wild one Monday at the Delta Center.

A 3-0 Vegas lead. Utah answering with four straight goals and a third-period lead. Brett Howden with his second of the game to tie it just past the midway point of the final period.

Then in overtime, a goal was disallowed for offsides which would’ve given the Knights the win and made a hero out of Pavel Dorofeyev, who has been struggling mightily heading into Game 4. But with the clock winding down under a minute, Shea Theodore, an original Golden Misfit and one of the many veterans and whose name is etched on the Stanley Cup from 2023, came through, beating Karel Vejmelka with 51 seconds left to give the Knights a 5-4 win and pull them even in the series with the Mammoth, 2-2. With the series now all square and Game 5 at 7 p.

m. Wednesday at T-Mobile Arena, the Knights may have regained the upper hand. It’s now a best-of-three series with two of the three in Las Vegas.