To everyone who was shocked that Pavel Dorofeyev didn’t get credit for his power-play goal Sunday, one person was not.
Dorofeyev himself.
Not because he thought he actually batted the puck in the net with his glove, or that his stick might have been above the crossbar when he cross-checked the puck.
“I haven’t won a single challenge yet, so I wasn’t surprised there,” Dorofeyev laughed.
The Vegas Golden Knights’ rising star had his 11th goal of the playoffs taken away after video review determined Dorofeyev used his glove to put the puck in the net.
Having found different ways to score goals in his young career, cross-checking a puck in mid-air was a new one.
This is ESPN’s view of the puck narrowly nudging Dorofeyev’s glove. pic.twitter.com/lOK97wGzCy
— Danny Webster (@DannyWebster21) May 25, 2026
Officials immediately waved it off, but the Knights started celebrating and proceeded as if Dorofeyev cut the Colorado Avalanche lead to 2-1 in Game 3 of the Western Conference Final.
After a lengthy review, the NHL situation room determined Dorofeyev illegally touched the puck.
Avalanche center Jack Drury scored a shorthanded goal moments later to push the lead to 3-0 in the first period.
The Knights killed a Colorado power play near the end of the period, then got a one of their own heading into the second.
Captain Mark Stone scored 19 seconds into the second period to jumpstart the comeback, win 5-3 and take a 3-0 series lead.
“That’s probably the best thing that could happen to us, the period ends,” Stone said. “Tomas (Hertl) draws a penalty. We got a little bit of momentum and we have a huge opportunity to start the period to come out and execute and we did.”
Some players admitted they didn’t handle the disallowed goal well with the officials and let it rattle them, leading to Drury’s goal that quieted the crowd.
It was another moment for coach John Tortorella where his team just got back to playing with no panic in their game.
“Yeah, we constantly talk about this. I think our team knows how to handle those situations,” Tortorella said. “They just play. We just play. That’s all we’re trying to do.”
Smith likely good to go
The Knights appear to have left Game 3 unscathed as it pertains to fourth-line winger Cole Smith.
Tortorella said there’s no concern with Smith after he suffered an apparent arm injury late in the third period Sunday.
Smith was checked hard into the corner and went straight to the dressing room. He returned for a 19-second shift after Brett Howden’s empty-netter that sealed the game.
No update on MacKinnon
The health of Avalanche star Nathan MacKinnon is the focus for everyone in Colorado ahead of Game 4.
MacKinnon was severely hampered after blocking a shot with his knee in the second period Sunday. He tried to play through it, but wasn’t the same player without his speed and puck handling.
Ouch. pic.twitter.com/UNnscin4T4
— Danny Webster (@DannyWebster21) May 25, 2026
Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said MacKinnon was being evaluated Monday and there will be a better idea Tuesday.
“For him to be able to come back out, get some work done late in the second period and intermission and be able to come out and even help us on the power play and empty-net situations,” Bednar said, “if that’s all he can do, we’ll take it.
“It’s better than anything else in my opinion we can put on the ice. It just shows his character and leadership and desire to win.”
People are watching
The numbers prove that fans are interested to see if the Knights can pull off the biggest upset of the playoffs.
ESPN announced that Game 1 of the conference final averaged 2.1 million viewers, which was a 45 percent increase over last year’s Game 1 between Edmonton and Dallas.
The 4-2 win for the Knights at Ball Arena was also the highest-rated Game 1 of the conference final since 2018, according to ESPN, when the Knights faced the Winnipeg Jets in their inaugural season.
Contact Danny Webster at dwebster@reviewjournal.com. Follow @DannyWebster21 on X.
