Dorofeyev's 1st NHL goal helps Golden Knights top Blues 5-3
Vegas Golden Knights' Pavel Dorofeyev smiles after scoring during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the St. Louis Blues Sunday, March 12, 2023, in St. Louis. Credit: AP/Jeff Roberson
ST. LOUIS — Pavel Dorofeyev scored his first NHL goal and Jiri Patera made 30 saves in his debut to help the Vegas Golden Knights beat the St. Louis Blues 5-3 on Sunday night.
Michael Amadio, Jonathan Marchessault, William Karlsson and Alex Pietrangelo also scored to help Vegas win for the sixth time in seven games to expand its lead over Los Angeles atop the Pacific Division to three points.
Jordan Kyrou, Jakub Vrana and Tyler Pitlick scored for St. Louis, and Jordan Binnington stopped 26 of 30 shots as the Blues dropped to 3-7-2 since Feb. 18.
Pietrangelo sealed the victory when he scored an empty-net goal with 7 seconds remaining.
Dorofeyev, playing in his fourth game this season, used his helmet to deflect Karlsson’s rebound past Binnington in the third period just 1:42 after Pitlick tied the game at 3 at the 3:41 mark.
Kyrou scored his team-leading and career-best 30th goal to cut Vegas' lead to 3-2 with 4:41 remaining in the second period.
Marchessault scored his 21st of the season, and Amadio netted his 13th in the third period to give Vegas a 3-1 lead.
Vegas Golden Knights' Pavel Dorofeyev (16) scores past St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington (50) and Nikita Alexandrov (59) during the third period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, March 12, 2023, in St. Louis. Credit: AP/Jeff Roberson
Vrana scored his third goal of the season and second with the Blues on a power play 13:26 into the first period to tie it at 1.
Karlsson, playing in his 600th career NHL game, scored his 13th goal to give Vegas a 1-0 lead 8:05 into the game.
HOMECOMING
Vegas center Ivan Barbashev was honored with a tribute video in the first period in his first game back in St. Louis since being traded to the Golden Knights for 2021 first-round draft pick Zach Dean on Feb. 26.
St. Louis Blues' Brayden Schenn (10) chases after a loose puck as Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Jiri Patera and Brayden McNabb watch during the second period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, March 12, 2023, in St. Louis. Credit: AP/Jeff Roberson
ON POINT
Blues C Pavel Buchnevich assisted on Kyrou’s goal to register a point in his ninth consecutive game. Buchnevich has four goals and 11 assists during that span.
UP NEXT
Knights: At Philadelphia on Tuesday night to close a five-game road trip.
Blues: Host Minnesota on Wednesday night.
