Vegas Golden Knights fans were shocked to see their team blow a 2-0 lead in Game 1. The Edmonton Oilers got another comeback (their fifth straight comeback, which is an NHL record, mind you) en route to a 4-2 victory. What was an exciting atmosphere in T-Mobile Arena suddenly deflated into a wet fart from eating two much Taco Bell Crispy Chicken Nuggets.
One notable player absent from the action was Pavel Dorofeyev. The Russian winger was given the vaunted day-to-day designation, which translates to missing more than one game in Las Vegas terms. He didn't participate in Wednesday's practice and still had the day-to-day designation.
So far, he's been relatively quiet in the Stanley Cup playoffs. The 24-year-old has one goal and one assist in five games, making for a shaky start to his postseason career.
Still, that should discount his abilities as a hockey player. After all, he did score a team-high 35 goals during the regular season. Dorofeyev has been essential to the Golden Knights attack, specifically the power play (13 power play goals during the regular season).
Pavel Dorofeyev is what's missing on the Golden Knights attack
The Golden Knights only mustered seven shots after the first period on Tuesday. It allowed Leon Draisaitl and the Edmonton Oilers to come back (for the fifth time) and defeat Vegas.
The game proved you can't simply sit on a lead when facing Draisaitl and Connor McDavid. No, that's unacceptable in today's world, especially since Edmonton has the best scoring attack this postseason (4.43 goals per game). Combine that with the second-best power play this postseason (33%) and that's a recipe for disaster.
Therefore, the objective should be to simply outscore them. The Oilers have their backup goaltender taking the reins, which should provide an ample opportunity to take advantage. Calvin Pickard had a save percentage of .882 and wasn't the most spectacular netminder that night. It's just he didn't face much resistance from the Vegas Golden Knights.
That's where Dorofeyev comes in. Aside from being the team leader in goals, he was also the regular season leader in shots (253). His booming shot and sniping presence are vital for Vegas's attack, causing opposing defenses to take notice.
Understanding Pavel Dorofeyev's impact on the series
Let's look at how Pavel Dorofeyev's absence impacts the Golden Knights. That starts with offensive numbers taking a dip, specifically on even strength.
Golden Knights with and w/o Pavel Dorofeyev | Goals Per Game | Power Play Percentage | Goals After the First Period |
|---|---|---|---|
With Dorofeyev | 3.00 | 27.8% | 10 |
Without Dorofeyev | 2.50 | 28.6% | 2 |
Yes, you can say that the Golden Knights have only played two games without Dorofeyev around. However, those five games were when the team was struggling with a Minnesota Wild forecheck. Edmonton doesn't have the speedy players that Minnesota does, sans their top unit.
That's why you need a player like Dorofeyev on the attack. He's a shifty player who meshes well with the transition game, specifically on the top lines. Imagine the damage he can do if he joins Jack Eichel on his wing.
The longer the 24-year-old remains out of commission, the more trouble the Golden Knights will have with the Oilers. You need as many arms as possible when dealing with Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid. Having your team leader in goals alleviates these problems, specifically with the even-strength attack being underwhelming.