There's no doubt Thursday is a big day for the Vegas Golden Knights. They have the ultimate opportunity to eliminate the Minnesota Wild. After all the aggressive forechecking and top line beatings they've given to the Golden Knights, it's a relief for Vegas to finally get the chance to advance. However, one name is absent from the fun: Pavel Dorofeyev.
The winger left Tuesday's game with an undisclosed injury without returning. He didn't return in a 3-2 overtime win and is a game-time decision for Thursday's contest. The Golden Knights will play in St. Paul at 4:30 PM in Game 6. Dorofeyev wasn't on the ice for morning rushes during Thursday's practice, according to Jesse Granger from The Athletic (Dorofeyev has been downgraded to out for Game 6).
"We'll see how he is for tomorrow. We didn't skate today. But we'll have a better idea tomorrow. If he can't go, we'll think about who goes in the lineup and go from there. I'm pretty comfortable with however it works out."Bruce Cassidy on Wednesday to the media
Losing Dorofeyev is a massive loss for Vegas. He led the team in goals scored in 2024-25 with 35 and had 52 points. On top of that, he scored 13 power play goals and seven game-winning goals.
What are the consequences of not having the 24-year-old for the series-clincher? Will Cassidy be able to tap into his forward depth and move ahead without his emerging superstar? Who will step up for the Russian winger?
Breaking down Pavel Dorofeyev's potential Game 6 absence
Not having Pavel Dorofeyev affects the forward group in many ways. For one, they don't have a solid shooter for even strength play or special teams. That's a massive blow that will affect how the lineup plays against an aggressive forechecking team like Minnesota.
But the Vegas Golden Knights also lose some speed and skating. The top line looked much better on Tuesday with Eichel, Dorofeyev, and Karlsson together. Without the Russian winger, who steps in? Will they carry the youth that the 24-year-old had? Or will they lag and leave Minnesota ripe for some intense forechecking action?
One name is Victor Olofsson, who didn't make an appearance in Game 5. But the Swedish forward has played in three playoff games this postseason. He doesn't have a point, which could change if given the call on Thursday.
What does Victor Olofsson bring to the table?
Olofsson also had 15 goals and 14 assists during the regular season. That included six power play goals. That's noteworthy given the urgency to replace Dorofeyev's production on special teams.
The 29-year-old is similar to Dorofeyev in certain respects, carrying a booming shot in a sniping role. He also has a left-handed shot like his fellow winger, slotting him in nicely in case of emergency.
There's no doubt that losing a solid winger in a series-clinching scenario isn't fun. You want all your best players on the ice so you can move on through the Stanley Cup playoffs. Still, Golden Knights fans should know that Bruce Cassidy always has a plan. That's especially true when it comes to his best superstars.