LAS VEGAS -- On March 20, 2025, Pavel Dorofeyev scored three times for his second career hat trick, leading the Vegas Golden Knights to a commanding 5-1 victory over the Boston Bruins at T-Mobile Arena. The win marked a significant moment for Dorofeyev, as his first career hat trick occurred earlier this season during a 5-3 loss to Nashville on January 14.
Alongside Dorofeyev's stellar performance, Brett Howden and Ivan Barbashev contributed goals for Vegas, helping the team maintain its position at the top of the Pacific Division, extending the lead to three points over the Edmonton Oilers. Golden Knights goaltender Adin Hill showcased his skills by making 18 saves, almost achieving his fifth shutout of the season. However, the Bruins managed to get on the board late in the game when Morgan Geekie scored his 24th goal with just 2 minutes and 11 seconds remaining.
Jeremy Swayman, the Bruins' goaltender, faced a challenging night, stopping 27 shots, but it wasn’t enough to prevent Boston from suffering their fourth consecutive loss. The Bruins now find themselves struggling in a playoff hunt, sitting five points behind the second wild card slot in the Eastern Conference with only twelve games left in the regular season.
In a notable trend, the Bruins struggled offensively, registering only 19 shots against the Golden Knights. This marks the fifth straight game in which they have been outshot, averaging a meager 20 shots on goal during that span. The frustrations mounted for Boston, as they were unable to generate enough momentum to secure vital points.
On the other side of the ice, William Karlsson made a triumphant return to the Golden Knights lineup after missing two months due to a lower-body injury. Karlsson recorded an assist and played 20 shifts for a total of 15 minutes and 57 seconds, proving his value to the team as they pushed towards playoff contention.
A pivotal moment in the game came early in the second period when Nikita Zadorov of the Bruins took a slashing penalty at 8 minutes and 15 seconds. The Golden Knights capitalized on this opportunity, leveraging the NHL's second-best power play to take a 1-0 lead, thanks to Dorofeyev's initial goal of the night.
Notably for the Golden Knights, this game marked the first time in franchise history they had players post hat tricks in consecutive home games, with Tomas Hertl having scored one in a 6-5 loss to the Los Angeles Kings just days prior, on March 9, 2025.
Looking ahead, the Golden Knights are set for the second game of a three-game homestand, facing the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday, March 22, 2025. Meanwhile, the Bruins will continue their road trip, heading to San Jose as they seek to regroup and halt their recent losing streak.
The atmosphere in Vegas was electric as fans cheered on their team during the Go Green Knight event, celebrating the Knight Shield Project, underlining the franchise's commitment to community and environmental initiatives on a night where first-class hockey was on display.
As the regular season winds down, both teams face crucial upcoming games; the Golden Knights strive to solidify their playoff position while the Bruins fight to regain their footing in a competitive Eastern Conference. The stakes are high, and fans will be eagerly watching for how both teams perform in the coming weeks.
