They’re getting longer and longer, too. 

After Game 4 looked destined to head to double overtime before Vegas put it to bed 5-4 in the final minute on Monday night, Wednesday’s Game 5 did reach a second OT period. 

But it ultimately ended in the same fashion: A 5-4 Golden Knights win and jubilation for Vegas, and missed opportunities and heartbreak for Utah. The Golden Knights’ victory, won on the stick of Brett Howden’s shorthanded goal in double overtime, now has Vegas up 3-2 in the series with a chance to claim the series in Game 6 Friday night in Salt Lake City. 

Buckle up for that one, because it’s going to be mayhem. Get your coffee ready, too. In the meantime, here are our takeaways from Vegas’ 5-4 double-overtime victory in Game 5. 

Dorofeyev responds again (and again, and again)

You can blame your lack of sleep on Pavel Dorofeyev, who tied things up with just 53 seconds remaining in regulation of Game 5 Wednesday night. What looked like a sure victory for Utah suddenly… wasn’t. 

Dorofeyev’s sudden surge has brought a massive turnaround for the Golden Knights. Or, maybe we should say surges — because there have been a few at this point. For the first three games of this series, the Golden Knights’ leading scorer in the regular-season was playing like he’d been hitting the snooze button. Head coach John Tortorella called on his biggest stars to step up over the weekend, and Dorofeyev responded in Game 4 with an early goal. He was back in the doghouse later that game, though, benched for most of the third period. He responded in overtime of Game 4 with what appeared to be the game-winner before it was ruled offside. 

After waking up in Game 4, he was indeed wide awake and clearly energized in Vegas Wednesday night with a hat trick — including a power-play goal for a unit that had been struggling mightily in this series.

Not only did Dorofeyev respond to his coach’s messages multiple times, he responded within Game 5, over and over. All three of his goals on Wednesday night were game-tying markers. 

Utah’s PP struggles prove costly for the second straight game

After 13 straight opportunities held without a goal, the Vegas Golden Knights’ power play finally broke its streak when Dorofeyev cashed in with the man advantage in the first period. It was Vegas’ third PP opportunity in the first frame, their baiting of Mammoth players early in this one finally paying off. 

Much of the talk this series has been about Vegas’ lack of attack with the man advantage — and Utah’s penalty-killing prowess — but after the Mammoth went scoreless on the power play in Game 4, and again in Game 5 despite ample opportunity to cash in, we should probably flip our focus. 

A lack of PP firepower early in this series has devolved into straight-up costly mistakes for the Mammoth as Vegas’ penalty kill takes over. Not only have the Golden Knights held Utah to just a single power-play goal in 14 opportunities this series, they’ve now scored two shorthanded goals — including the double-overtime winner in Game 5. Howden has scored both, also scoring short-handed in the first period of Game 4. 

It’s true that the power play was never Utah’s biggest strength. But it’s now a major weakness, and it’s proven costly in back-to-back games. 

Guenther’s point streak continues

After being held without a point in Game 1 of this series — feels like forever ago, doesn’t it? — Mammoth forward Dylan Guenther has put his name on the scoresheet each game since. Guenther scored to tie the game 3-3 early in the third period, his signature snap shot serving up his third goal of the series. Guenther’s shot — snap shot, slap shot, one-timer, all of the above — is truly a thing of beauty, and it’s getting plenty of spotlight time in this series. 

He now has three goals and five points in the series, tied with Lawson Crouse for the team lead. (Captain Clayton Keller also have five points, thanks to a two-assist night on Wednesday, but has fewer goals.)

Like a handful of other first-time playoff performers in Utah, Guenther’s playoff identity is really taking shape and he’s clearly excelling on this stage. Can he step up for the home side Friday night to keep Utah alive?