Pavel Dorofeyev’s Two-Goal Performance Propels Vegas Golden Knights Past Anaheim Ducks in 3-2 Victory

The Vegas Golden Knights edged the Anaheim Ducks 3-2 on Wednesday in a tightly contested 2025-26 season NHL Regular Season finale. Pavel Dorofeyev led the charge with a pair of goals, while Vegas successfully fended off a playmaking surge from Anaheim’s youth to secure the home win.

The decisive moment

The Vegas Golden Knights maintained a slim advantage throughout the final stretch, preventing Anaheim from finding the game-tying goal in the closing minutes. Vegas led by as many as one goal during the most critical phases of the contest, demonstrating the defensive poise necessary to close out a one-score game. The turning point arrived as the Golden Knights stabilized their zone exits, effectively neutralizing the Ducks' forecheck after Anaheim had cut into the lead late in the game.

Despite the Ducks' persistent pressure, the Golden Knights' ability to sustain offensive zone time late in the third period proved vital. This control limited Anaheim's opportunities to pull their goaltender for an extra attacker until the very final seconds of the match. The victory underscores Vegas’s tactical discipline in high-leverage situations during this 2025-26 season NHL Regular Season matchup.

By the numbers

Pavel Dorofeyev (VGK): 2 goals, providing the primary offensive spark for the Golden Knights.
Tomas Hertl (VGK): 1 goal and 1 assist, contributing to every Vegas score on the night.
Cutter Gauthier (ANA): 2 assists, serving as the primary facilitator for the Ducks' offense.
Mason McTavish (ANA): 2 assists, matching Gauthier’s playmaking output for Anaheim.
Final Margin: 1 point, reflecting a "close game" defined by clinical execution.

The offensive distribution for Vegas was highly efficient, with Dorofeyev and Hertl accounting for the entirety of the team's goals. On the opposite side, Anaheim relied heavily on the vision of Gauthier and McTavish, who combined for four assists to keep the Ducks within striking distance until the final horn.

What it means

This 3-2 victory allows the Vegas Golden Knights to conclude this 2025-26 season NHL Regular Season game with a positive result against a persistent opponent. The win highlights the team's top-six scoring depth and their ability to manufacture goals when the margin for error is razor-thin. For a squad looking to establish consistency, winning these tightly contested matchups is a significant indicator of their structural growth.

The Anaheim Ducks faced significant hurdles in this contest, playing without key defensive anchor Radko Gudas and forward Ryan Poehling. The absence of Gudas’s physical presence on the blue line was noticeable during Vegas’s sustained offensive cycles in the second period. Nevertheless, the performance of young players like Gauthier and McTavish provides a clear developmental silver lining for the organization as they move forward.

What to watch next

Following the conclusion of this 2025-26 season NHL Regular Season game, both organizations will shift their focus toward evaluation and recovery. The Golden Knights will look to carry the momentum from this narrow victory into their next phase of preparation, while Anaheim will prioritize the health of their injured veterans and the continued integration of their playmaking core.