The Vegas Golden Knights took down the Utah Mammoth in double overtime with a 5-4 win in Game 5 of the First Round on Wednesday night at T-Mobile Arena to take a 3-2 lead in the series.

Pavel Dorofeyev led the way with his first career playoff hat trick, including the game-tying goal in the final minute of regulation to force overtime. After a scoreless first extra frame, Brett Howden netted the shorthanded game-winner 5:28 into the second overtime, marking his third career playoff overtime goal.

Utah opened the scoring late in the first period before Dorofeyev answered on the power play with 41 seconds remaining to tie the game 1-1. The Mammoth regained the lead in the second period, but Dorofeyev struck again to even the score before Shea Theodore gave Vegas its first lead of the night at 3-2 with a wrist shot from the point. Utah responded with two third-period goals to take a 4-3 advantage before Dorofeyev completed the hat trick in the final minute of regulation to send the game to overtime.

Shea Theodore recorded a goal and an assist, including his 10th career playoff go-ahead goal — the most among active defensemen — while Jack Eichel added two assists to become the franchise leader in multi-assist playoff games (11) and move into a tie for second in postseason assists in team history (40). Carter Hart made 34 saves in the win, stopping all 12 shots he faced across both overtime periods.

The Vegas Golden Knights evened their First Round series at 2-2 with a 5-4 overtime win against the Utah Mammoth in Game 4, as Shea Theodore scored the game-winner with less than a minute remaining in overtime. Theodore’s goal marked his first career playoff overtime tally and 16th postseason goal with Vegas.

Pavel Dorofeyev opened the scoring just 1:12 into the first period, and Brett Howden added a shorthanded goal late in the frame to give Vegas a 2-0 lead. Cole Smith extended the advantage to 3-0 early in the second, but Utah answered with goals from Nick Schmaltz and Ian Cole to cut the deficit to one.

The Mammoth carried that momentum into the third period, as Michael Carcone tied the game before Clayton Keller gave Utah its first lead at 4-3. Howden struck again midway through the period, deflecting in Noah Hanifin’s shot to even the score at 4-4 and force overtime.

Howden led the way with two goals and an assist, while Jack Eichel recorded three assists, including on the overtime winner. Dorofeyev and Smith each scored their first goals of the series, with Smith notching his first career postseason tally.

The Vegas Golden Knights fell to the Utah Mammoth, 4-2, in Game 3 of the First Round on Friday night at Delta Center, as Utah took a 2-1 series lead.

Utah built a 4-0 advantage behind goals from MacKenzie Weegar, Dylan Guenther, and two from Lawson Crouse before Vegas mounted a late push. Jack Eichel got the Golden Knights on the board with 6:40 remaining in the second period, converting a rebound in the crease on a backhand. Nic Dowd pulled Vegas within two with just over three minutes left in regulation, finishing a centering feed from Reilly Smith, but Utah held off the comeback to secure the win.