Takeaways From the Golden Knights’ 3-2 Overtime Win Against the Ducks in Game 5

The Vegas Golden Knights once again lead the series after grinding out a 3-2 overtime win over the Anaheim Ducks in Game 5 on Tuesday night.

Vegas’ first goal was on the power play from Pavel Dorofeyev late in the first period. The second came from Tomáš Hertl, and finally, the overtime winner from Dorofeyev, again, just over four minutes into overtime. 

For most of the night, this felt like the kind of game where one bounce would decide everything. The Ducks clogged the neutral zone, limited Vegas’ rush chances, and forced the Golden Knights into a patient, physical style of hockey. But in the end, Vegas found just enough offense and composure to take the win.

Vegas Stayed Patient Once Again

This was not the explosive, transition-heavy version of Vegas that showed up earlier in the series. Anaheim made sure of that. The Ducks slowed the pace down significantly through the middle of the ice and consistently forced the Golden Knights to dump pucks in rather than attack with speed. There were long stretches where Vegas struggled to generate dangerous looks at five-on-five, particularly during the second period.

Instead of forcing low-percentage plays, Vegas continued to trust its structure. The defense stayed active at the blue line, the forwards continued to cycle pucks deep, and eventually, the pressure started wearing Anaheim down. That patience became critical late in the game and eventually in overtime. Vegas looked fresher, cleaner, and more composed and that usually is not accidental in playoff hockey. The Golden Knights have been through too many of these moments to panic when offense is not immediately available.

Earlier in the series, Vegas won games with speed and offensive pressure. In Game 5, they won because they were willing to adapt and embrace a slower, heavier playoff game.

Vegas’ Defensive Structure Continues to Set the Tone

For all the attention the Golden Knights receive for their offensive depth, Game 5 was another reminder that their defensive structure remains a key piece of the foundation of their success.

The Ducks pushed hard throughout the night and created several dangerous moments off the rush, but Vegas rarely looked disorganized in its own zone. Vegas consistently had layers of support defensively, with forwards tracking back aggressively and defensemen keeping Anaheim to the outside for much of the game.

That structure became especially important once the pace tightened in the third. Instead of turning the game into a chaotic back-and-forth battle, Vegas stayed committed to its system. Defensemen made smart passes under pressure, the neutral zone remained difficult for Anaheim to navigate cleanly, and the Golden Knights did a strong job recovering loose pucks after initial saves.

The overtime period showcased that defensive discipline perfectly. Vegas controlled large stretches simply because the Ducks struggled to establish sustained offensive-zone pressure. Every time Anaheim appeared ready to build momentum, the Golden Knights broke up plays quickly and transitioned back the other way.

That ability to stay connected defensively is one of the biggest reasons Vegas remains so difficult to beat in the postseason, specifically. Teams can survive offensive slumps for stretches of a series if their defensive foundation holds strong, and the Golden Knights have shown throughout this series that they are comfortable winning lower-scoring, grind-it-out playoff games.

Vegas Showed Up When the Pressure Peaked

There is a calmness to the Golden Knights in high-pressure moments that continues to separate them from many teams around the league. Overtime in a pivotal Game 5 can quickly become chaotic. One mistake as simple as a turnover, a poorly timed shift change or a missed pass can lose a team a game. However, Vegas rarely looked rattled once overtime began, and that worked in their favor.

The Golden Knights controlled possession for large stretches of overtime because they trusted their game. Defensemen stayed composed under pressure, while forwards supported low in the zone. They avoided forcing stretch plays and instead focused on sustained offensive-zone time. This is where Vegas’ playoff pedigree becomes difficult for opponents to overcome with many players on this roster having already played in elimination games, conference finals, and Stanley Cup Finals. 

The Golden Knights responded by staying patient, structured, and composed until the breakthrough finally arrived. Now they are one win away from moving on with Game 6 taking place on Thursday, May 14, in Anaheim.