Pavel Dorofeyev scored twice and added an assist, stepping up in a major way with Jack Eichel out of the Vegas Golden Knights' lineup.
Pavel Dorofeyev scored twice and added an assist, stepping up in a major way with Jack Eichel out of the Vegas Golden Knights' lineup.
Trailing 1-0 in the second period, the Golden Knights were desperately looking for a spark. Back-to-back losses against the New York Islanders and New York Rangers had the team desperate for a win and the desperation grew when Eichel was announced out before the game due to an illness.
The spark they were in search of came from 24-year-old Pavel Dorofeyev. He scored the equalizer on the power play, ending his four-game scoreless drought.
With the Golden Knights up 2-1 in the third period, Dorofeyev added an assist on Tomas Hertl's 12th of the season before scoring his second of the game on the power play once again.
The Russian winger is up to 16 goals and 24 points in 43 games. He's set a career-high in goals, has tied his point total and is four games from setting a career-high in games played. The Golden Knights were hoping to see Dorofeyev take a step forward in his development this season and he has done just that.
"He can score, and he will, and I’ve said it before," head coach Bruce Cassidy said about Dorofeyev. "Sometimes wingers can be streaky, so at the end of the day, he’s kept working, and done a good job."
It's not uncommon for forwards to go through dry spells where the puck doesn't find the back of the net or they feel like the chances aren't coming to them at the rate they were previously. What they need to continue to do is work hard and Hertl, Dorofeyev's linemate, has been going through a similar slump.
"You have to just stay with it," said Hertl. "If you have the chances and you have the looks, and if you play hard, it’ll eventually come. He (Dorofeyev) played hard. He doesn’t mind taking hits or holding onto the puck. It’ll come your way, you’ll get on a heater, and you will start scoring goals again."
Now in the second half of the season, the Golden Knights are looking for everyone to find consistency and head into the playoffs feeling confident and at their best.
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