Recap: The Golden Knights returned home for a matchup with the 3-1-0 Boston Bruins. The Bruins opened the scoring 2:05 into the game. Leading goal scorer Pavel Dorofeyev answered 90 seconds later for his 6th goal of 2025-26. Boston snapped the tie late in the period, but Vegas’ Cole Reinhardt responded for his first goal of the season.
Massachusetts-born Jack Eichel gave the Golden Knights their first lead of the game with his 5th tally of the season. Two minutes later Tomas Hertl doubled VGK’s lead with a power play goal. Boston scored a PP goal of their own to climb within one. Ten minutes later William Karlsson poked in his 15th shorthanded goal of his career.
Karlsson scored his second goal of the night on an early third power play. Boston stormed back with two quick goals to get within one. Vegas protected their lead down the stretch and held on to win.
The Golden Knights record improves to 3-0-2 defeating the Bruins 6-5 at T-Mobile Arena. Next up, Vegas will welcome the Calgary Flames on Saturday night. Puck drop against the Flames is scheduled for 7 PM. (Recap by Jason)
Analysis: Another slow start for VGK allowing the first goal, but this time it didn’t take long for them to get it back and eventually turn the game around. The Golden Knights really started to pour it in in the middle of the game, including goals on the power play, shorthanded, and even strength. A few soft goals by Akira Schmid made it interesting, but the better team ultimately won. (Analysis by Ken)
Upcoming stories from the Vegas Golden Knights vs. Boston Bruins at T-Mobile Arena.
- A story from Jason of presently undecided nature
Ken’s Three VGK Stars
*** William Karlsson
** Jack Eichel
* Mark Stone
Richie-Rich
Game 5 Summary VGK 6, BOS 5
So far, no big surprise. This team is performing as advertised. Better on offense and worse on defense. A 6-5 win is something we fans are not used to. It has to be very difficult for Bruce Cassidy whose teams are usually known for better defense.
8 PTS!
Carter Hall? I am not sure why we need more goaltender drama. Can’t we go a single season without it?
Pistol Pete
17 GA in five games 16 in regulation. That is a bit over 3 a game that could be more non-elite goaltending results than skaters defending poorly. Anyways it’s too early imo to say this team’s defending is subpar. Hanifin has been out four of the five games that can’t help. Korczak and Lauzon developing chemistry is a possible factor as well. Tonight the Karlsson line allowed the first two goals have not seen the game yet so not sure that was on the D men more than the forwards.
Pistol Pete
Did I forget to mention Eichel’s nine shots? Yes I think I did!
NAM
Yeah vegas definitely doesn’t need Carter Hall, so thank god they picked up Carter Hart instead. He is a high ceiling goalie on the cheap. The risk vs cost is very little. Why is this a problem? Find ways to get better, find ways to win, and find ways to beat other teams all working towards the same goal. At worst he flames out as your 2nd/3rd goalie or get put on waivers. At best he becomes a high end number 1 and a step up from Hill.
Emmanuel
Theres TONS of 2/3 G out there, why take a flyer on a controversial G w/a career .906?
To me the front office hasnt been the same since they won the Cup, theyre grabbing at straws…….
Richie-Rich
How are they going to pay Carter Hart? They have $310K in Cap Space left.
knights fan in minny
Dump number 20 move howdy up to 3rd line reinhart Or Holtz on the 4th line #20 isn’t in future plans Of Vegas
Pistol Pete
Great to see Karlsson have a good game. This harks back to his 30G/30A season 2023-24. Btw the Saad bashing is getting old already he’s due to get some points and will. But a rough 5 on 5 game early on for that line allowing the first two BOS goals.
Mitch Marner as advertised six assists in five games what a stretch pass to Pav. Quarterbacking the PP from the blue line the guy is just so versatile.
Is Stone’s nine assists the first five games a VGK record? Would not surprise me.
Congrats to Reinhardt. As for him vs. Holtz we know better than to question Cassidy’s judgement.
Scary third period for Schmid nearly blew a three goal lead ouch.
EDM, LAK lose in reg SEA in OT.
Pistol Pete
Btw that 30G/30A season was just 70 games. Go Wild Bill! Definitely has few years left in him.
Pistol Pete
It’s been working.
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Yes, Mitch Marner has been quarterbacking the Vegas Golden Knights’ power play from the blue line. The winger was acquired by the Golden Knights from the Toronto Maple Leafs in a sign-and-trade deal on July 1, 2025.
Details on Marner’s role:
A unique power-play option: Head coach Bruce Cassidy has utilized Marner in this position during the 2025 preseason and early into the regular season. The role is usually played by a defenseman, but Marner has experience and success in that spot, having done it for the Maple Leafs in the past.
Elite vision: Marner’s high-end vision and playmaking ability are key reasons for his usage in this position. His creativity from the blue line adds another dimension to an already strong Golden Knights power play, which ranked second in the NHL in 2024-25.
Potential five-forward setup: His presence allows for a potential five-forward unit, creating a “lethal” and difficult-to-defend look for opponents. This adds a significant layer of depth and options for Cassidy.
Opening up ice: By quarterbacking the power play, Marner can create more space for other elite players like Jack Eichel or Pavel Dorofeyev, who can be stationed closer to the net as a shooting option.
Pistol Pete
Did I forget to mention Eichel’s nine shots? Yes I think I did!
TS
Now THAT was a great game! The boys are coming together well, and the rest of the league is gonna have their hands full when they play us! Best overall game so far!!
Pistol Pete
Canucks beat the Stars in reg in Dallas. Not sure this division is as weak as some claim. Ducks rebuild might be progressing.
Emmanuel
Sharks arent as bad as the last few years…….still Canucks/Ducks/Sharks need help in too many areas, no depth.
Pistol Pete
Thought Hart spoke well very well bright and seemingly sincere. I am confident we get past the personal issue. VGK is a character organization but sometimes you bend a little with the objective of improving the roster in this case goalie depth is sorely needed and hope the guy becomes the model Golden Knight we expect.
I am excited now for the potential. Long road back with a layoff like that but the guy is a very athletic stand on his head game saving saves type of goalie. I like Schmid but Hart is in a perfect position to become our back-up and eventual starter. Let Sean Burke go to work!
Pistol Pete
Prediction: Schmid eventually gets waived and claimed.
Emmanuel
Hill & Schmid have both been shaky……maybe its a blue line issue?
No Pietrangelo or Hanifin………
Richie-Rich
Hill has always been streaky. His stats put him somewhere in the 15th or lower in terms of goaltending performance. I think Hill’s days are numbered in a VGK sweater. We shall see.
Frank
Ultimately as a goalie, you’re called on to stop the shots, no matter what the defense looks like. Prime example is the 5th Bruins goal last night. That garbage goal needs to be stopped 100/100 times by an NHL caliber goaltender. We need the goalie that can make the stops, especially early in games…. we’re not coming from behind against better competition.
Pistol Pete
Has anybody noticed Hertl’s speed his ability to get up ice and stay in the play? Some fans have complained he’s slow and he is not flat out the fastest guy on the ice but understand no NHL forward makes it in the league if they can’t skate fast enough to keep up with the game. Same can be said of Stone.
The Hertl line with Marner has been really good. He makes Dorofeyev and Hertl better. He is so good defensively so quick to get back in his own end he’s improving that line’s two way coverage. Just so long as Saad-Karlsson-Smith can generate offense I think they will it makes sense to have Stone in the top six.
TS
PP, I sure noticed that speed of Hertl vs Boston! I was thinking the same thing! Has he found another gear??
TS
And Stone is EVERYWHERE!! He’s a genius on ice!
Emmanuel
Stone is the most underrated player in the NHL caused he played in backwater Ottawa. Can literally do it all as a winger.
knights fan in minny
Tommy H came flying out of the offensive zone to back check I had to do the double take I was shocked it was him He did look a little Faster Maybe he’s finally 100 percent healthy
Richie-Rich
And the toughness! He took some hard hits and high sticks that would have sent some to the locker room! Hertl definitely looks faster this season than last.
Pistol Pete
Whether off the rush or from the cycle net front is how you score in the playoffs. It’s what Cassidy is working to get the team to do in the regular season and we saw it this game.
JB
Scary but nice win. Proving we can score goals but also giving them up. Racking up the points though!
Emmanuel
Cant waitbtil they play a top 8 team, thatll give us a better barometer of this team.
Pistol Pete
Just five games in but never had players leading or tied for points, assists and goals. Fun while it lasts!
Pistol Pete
Eichel is on another level even his face offs are up.
He seems bought in that driving the net is part of how you need to play in the playoffs.
JB
Hey Pete, you trying to set the record for most posts? ;)
knights fan in minny
Pretty good game The boys kind of let the Bruins back in it Good win though The captain is playing damn good hockey dorfy Is seeing dollar signs in his head
Richie-Rich
I think it is time to start thinking about how the Front Office pays Dorofeyev. He’s arbitration eligibile after this season (RFA). The CAP is currently 95.5million, next year it goes up 8.5million to 104million.
The NHL restricted free agent (RFA) process involves a player whose contract has expired but who does not qualify as an unrestricted free agent. The player’s current team must provide a qualifying offer to retain their rights, allowing the player to negotiate with other teams while giving the original team the right to match any offers received.
If Dorofeyev keeps up this scoring pace it’s quite possible his worth will be in the $7 to $9 million range. Does the VGK try to lock Pavel up long term by extending his contract this season with an offer, or do they risk losing him in a bidding war after the season? He’s a young 24 years of age and has been durable.
They only have $310K of space left under the CAP. If the VGK wants to get him extended they will have to lose some CAP. They also have the Carter Hart contract to deal with.
Does anyone have any idea whatsoever as to how they can do either of these things? I don’t, not without trading (giving away some current pieces).
Might there be any club out there willing to take Hill and his $6.25 million per year contract? That’s the only way they are going to sign Carter Hart.
Emmanuel
Thats a very large cap increase! Theyll sign Doro.
Hart hasnt played yet and the fanbase is already kicking Hill & Schmid to the curb……Jeeeeez.
Richie-Rich
Here’s the problem. Dorofeyev’s value could be $10 million or more in arbitration. He’s certainly on pace to put himself on the top shelf in the window.
Hill won us the Cup. He’s never been a top tier goaltender. He got paid. He’s not going to win games for this club, not consistently because he’s too streaky. He’s also terrible when there’s a breakaway. $6.25 million per year – OVERPAID.
If there’s a knock on this franchise it’s managing goaltenders. Don’t get me wrong, we love the guy because of the Stanley Cup. Always will. But that was the past. I am not knocking Schmid at all. He’s looked pretty good in net for a young guy.
I am going to go out on a limb and say that Hill will be traded to an east coast team along with at least half or more of his cap hit in order to sign Hart. Then you will have a goal tender competition between Hart and Schmid.
Why do I say this? Look at the performance. I doubt they would have signed Hart if they thought Hill was the 1A. I don’t think he’s 1A.
Frank
Unfortunately Hill is not the answer. He had an outstanding Stanley Cup run and a stellar start to the season after…. since then…. really kinda meh. We need a consistent netminder that can steal a few games… especially come playoff time.
Pistol Pete
Reports are Hart’s PTO will convert to 2 yr. $1.8m AAV. If true he agreed to come in to those terms. That will put it right at the 2025-26 cap limit or a bit over.
According times my 2026-27 cap calculation with Eichel and Korczak’s new contracts there will only be just under $5m for Pav. McCrimmon is going to have to chop somewhere to get Pav paid assuming he actually has the season we are hoping
for. That has not happened yet far from it actually. He needs more assists better playmaker good in the playoffs.
Pistol Pete
according to my 2026-27 cap calculation
NAM
It’s still a long season and a lot can happen. Being on fire in October hasn’t really meant shit come the mid way point, and on, for a lot of guys. If Doro completely disappears during the playoffs again this year I don’t see VGK paying the large salary or at least I don’t think they should. If all they care about is getting to the playoffs then by all means pay it. If you want to build a cup winner there has to be something more. Can his game get there? We will find out.
TS
DORO stays in Vegas. He’s the future of the team, the scoring machine the team needs. Love the young player!
Frank
Biggest factor in this win… we outscored the opponent. Best cure for mediocre goaltending is to score more than the other team. We just barely did that. The 5th goal against Schmid was inexcusable. As good as he was relieving Hill in Calgary, he was just plain bad last night. As long as we keep winning, that’s fine, however…… the netminding situation in Vegas needs a fix (hopefully Carter Hart is that guy or Hill can catch fire!)