Golden Knights Gameday Playoff Preview: Game 6 at the Mammoth

After a thrilling Game 5 victory, the Vegas Golden Knights are one win away from the second round. It is time for another Golden Knights’ Gameday Preview, but for the first time this series, we have an elimination game on our hands. The Golden Knights and Utah Mammoth take the series back to Utah, where the Golden Knights will look to finish off their worthy opponent.

Golden Knights Gameday Preview: Game 6 at Mammoth (Vegas Leads 3-2)

The Golden Knights needed some late heroics to win Game 5. Pavel Dorofeyev tied the game in the final minute with the extra attacker on, completing a hat trick in the process. After the first overtime period failed to produce a winner, the Mammoth went on a power play with a chance to win the game. There was a goal on that power play, but it was the Golden Knights getting the special-teams winner. A shorthanded goal by Brett Howden sent T-Mobile Arena into a frenzy and put the Golden Knights on the verge of advancing.

Head coach John Tortorella praised his team after the big win:

“They’ve regained their confidence. They realized how good they can be. I, you, can tell they never feel they’re out of a game. It’s a good locker room, and it’s a really good locker room when you win in the playoffs.”

Golden Knights’ Game 6 Projected Lineup (Subject to Change)

• Ivan Barbashev – Jack Eichel – Brett Howden
• Reilly Smith – Mitch Marner – Mark Stone
• Pavel Dorofeyev – Tomas Hertl – Keegan Kolesar
• Cole Smith – Nic Dowd – Colton Sissons
  
• Brayden McNabb – Shea Theodore
• Noah Hanifin – Rasmus Andersson
• Jeremy Lauzon – Kaedan Korczak
  
• Carter Hart/Adin Hill

Golden Knights’ Playoff Team Leaders

Eichel leads the Golden Knights in points (eight) and assists (seven) this playoffs. Following his hat trick in Game 5, Dorofeyev now leads the team in goals with four. Smith rounds out the team leaders with the most penalty minutes (10) and the best plus/minus rating (plus-3).

Through five games, Hart remains the only goaltender to see action for Vegas. He has posted a 3.02 goals against average (GAA) alongside a .888 save percentage (SV%).

Storyline #1- The Goaltending Battle

Both Hart and Utah goaltender Karej Vejmelka have looked sharp at times in this series. However, there have been times when both offenses have found their groove and lit up the scoreboard. Games 4 and 5 have been the biggest examples of the latter, with 18 combined goals being scored in the two games.

A good portion of this credit goes to both teams’ skaters. Both have elite scorers, and it is not uncommon for either team to put up a lot of goals. However, the storyline heading into Game 6 is about which goaltender can be just a little better than the other.

Heading into Game 2, Hart had won seven straight while posting a tremendous 1.72 GAA and .932 SV%. That said, in Games 2 and 3, the 27-year-old battled some adversity, losing both outings while posting an ugly 3.68 GAA and .829 SV%. His struggles continued in Game 4, as he allowed four goals on 31 shots. He gave up another four in Game 5, but the Golden Knights managed wins in both games despite that.

Vejmelka had been mostly serviceable in the first four games, posting a 2.80 GAA and .899 SV% through four games. After another high-goal output in Game 5, Vejmelka is seeking a bounce-back performance.

Game 6 may come down to which goaltender plays better. Even if just a little better, that could be the difference between a Game 7 and the series ending.

Storyline #2- Dorofeyev Heating Up

Dorofeyev has posted 30-plus goals in each of the past two regular seasons. The 25-year-old is certainly emerging as an elite scorer in the NHL. Game 5 was a strong example of that. When the Golden Knights needed scoring, Dorofeyev provided. He now has four goals in the series, all coming in the last two games.

Heading into this series, Dorofeyev only had one goal and two points in six-career games against the Mammoth. He is heating up, and if this is a sign of things to come, Dorofeyev may single-handedly eliminate the Mammoth from the playoffs.

Storyline #3- Vegas and the Special Teams

The Golden Knights’ power play has not been as effective as the team would like, but it is still better than the Mammoth’s. Tortorella has juggled his power-play units a few times during this series. The power play as a whole has three goals in this series, compared to the Mammoth’s single goal with the man advantage.

When it comes to penalty killing, the Golden Knights have been effective, killing 13 of 14 Vegas penalties. Furthermore, they have two shorthanded goals in the series, both by Howden in Game 5.

The Golden Knights are proving that the better special-teams squad comes out ahead in the series. They need to continue this trend in Game 6. If they are successful, they will have a great chance to end the Mammoth’s season.

How to Watch Golden Knights vs. Mammoth Game 6

Locally, the game can be viewed on SCRIPPS. Nationally, it airs on ESPN.

Be sure to check back with The Hockey Writers for more playoff coverage.