Over a month into the playoffs, Pavel Dorofeyev has proven the doubters wrong

A bit over a month ago, I wrote about how Pavel Dorofeyev's playoff history had not been up to par so far. At the time, Doro had posted two points through 10 career playoff games and had looked like a non-factor against the Utah Mammoth early in that series. In my opinion, there was some justified fear that despite his gaudy regular-season scoring, he wasn't built for playoff hockey.

Oops.

Turns out, Doro just needed a bit more time to wake up his playoff beast. Though he also went pointless in Game 3 against the Mammoth, he's since posted 14 points in 13 games against three playoff opponents, and sits tied for the league lead in playoff goals. Needless to say, he did step up.

His Utah Game 5 performance etched itself into Vegas lore

Remember just a few short weeks ago, when Vegas was gritting it out with a strong Utah team? That series was tied at two games apiece after a critical Shea Theodore 2OT goal saved the Golden Knights from a 3-1 deficit and possible elimination. Vegas entered Game 5 in desperate need of another win to keep the momentum going, and Doro delivered in spades. The night was looking potentially disastrous, with the Golden Knights blowing a 3-2 third-period lead to go down 4-3 with eight minutes left. Doro had already contributed two goals on the night, and with one minute separating Vegas from a 3-2 series deficit, he did it again:

It marked the first playoff hat trick of his career, the sixth in our franchise history, and the first since Mark Stone's legendary cup-clincher in 2023. With Brett Howden later winning it for the Golden Knights shorthanded in overtime, Doro's hat trick proved critical in fully seizing the momentum during that first round series.

In a fun pattern, his Anaheim game 5 was legendary as well

The series is again tied at two games apiece. Vegas is coming off a disappointingly close 4-3 loss when they could've gone up 3-1. It's another major game on home ice. Who steps up? Pavel Dorofeyev. For a second straight Game 5, Doro did it himself, potting two goals (including the overtime winner) against Anaheim to once again direct Vegas towards a series win. Remember when he made Chris Kreider look silly?

All told, he put up seven points in six games against Anaheim, becoming an absolute thorn in the side of a fast Ducks team. It's somewhat funny that one of our only young players carried us to a win over a team defined by youth.

While a bit quieter (possibly given the lack of a Game 5!), Doro still added another three points in the Golden Knights' sweep of Colorado, keeping up an outside Conn Smythe contendership case. It's also worth noting this chart from my last postgame article:

Even with the slow start, Doro ranks as our fifth-best skater these playoffs, only behind our two superstar forwards, an ever-consistent Shea Theodore, and an inexplicably breaking-out Dylan Coghlan. Again, pretty damn good for a guy I questioned the postseason abilities of.

We can only hope that Doro keeps things up in what's sure to be a hard-fought Finals against a very strong Hurricanes team. Keep an eye out if it reaches a Game 5, and on the eve of the final stage, as always, Go Knights Go!!

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