NHL: Pavel Dorofeyev's OT goal gives Knights 3-2 series lead over Ducks

Pavel Dorofeyev scored two goals, including the game-winner 4:10 into overtime, as the Vegas Golden Knights defeated the Anaheim Ducks 3-2 on Tuesday night, taking a 3-2 lead in their best-of-seven Western Conference second-round series.

Dorofeyev, positioned alone near the left post, redirected a pass from Jack Eichel for his first career playoff overtime goal.

"To be honest, I can't tell you what happened there," Dorofeyev said. "I just saw the puck, got my stick on it, and thankfully it went in. To score my first OT goal in the playoffs, it's awesome. It feels special."

Tomas Hertl contributed a goal and an assist, Eichel added two assists, and goaltender Carter Hart made 34 saves for Vegas. The Golden Knights can advance to the Western Conference finals for the fourth time in franchise history with a Game 6 victory on Thursday in Anaheim.

For Anaheim, Beckett Sennecke extended his goal streak to four games, and Olen Zellweger also scored. Cutter Gauthier and Mason McTavish each had two assists, while Lukas Dostal finished with 29 saves.

"It's definitely a big letdown," Ducks coach Joel Quenneville said. "Tomorrow is a new day. There will be games in the playoffs where, at the end, your stomach feels like it's rotten. At the same time, it can happen just the opposite."

Anaheim took a 1-0 lead at 12:36 of the first period on Sennecke's fifth playoff goal, a rebound from a Gauthier shot. The goal came during a power play after Vegas defenseman Brayden McNabb was penalized with a five-minute major and a game misconduct for interference on a late check to Ryan Poehling, who left the ice with an upper-body injury.

Vegas tied the game shortly after on a power-play goal by Dorofeyev. He stole the puck from Ducks forward Chris Kreider, skated to the top of the slot, and scored with a wrist shot past Dostal.

Hertl gave Vegas a 2-1 lead early in the third period by backhanding a rebound through Dostal's pads. Zellweger tied the game with 3:05 remaining in regulation for his first career playoff goal.

Sennecke's five goals this postseason tie the Ducks’ rookie playoff record set by Bobby Ryan in 2009.

-Field Level Media/Reuters