Vegas Crushes Anaheim 5:1, Advances to NHL Western Conference Semifinals
The Vegas Golden Knights routed the Anaheim Ducks 5:1 in Game 6 of their series (Dorofeev with a brace) and won the matchup 4-2. The Knights' next opponent will be Colorado.
Main Event
The Vegas Golden Knights punched their ticket to the NHL Western Conference Finals by crushing the Anaheim Ducks 5:1 on the road in Game 6 of the second-round Stanley Cup playoff series. The match, held on May 14, 2026, at the Honda Center in front of a full house, ended in a convincing victory for the visitors, who won the series 4-2. The Knights advanced to the third round of the playoffs for the fifth time in the franchise's nine seasons, cementing their status as one of the most successful expansion franchises in league history.
Details and Statistics
The game was all but decided in the first period, which Vegas won 3-0. The star of the opening frame was Mitch Marner, who factored into all three of his team's goals. Just 62 seconds after the opening faceoff, he opened the scoring, receiving a long pass from William Karlsson, deking defenseman Jackson LaCombe, and pushing the puck between the goalie's legs.
At the nine-minute mark, Brett Howden scored shorthanded on a pass from Marner, notching his third shorthanded goal of the playoffs. That tied the NHL record for most shorthanded goals in a single Stanley Cup playoff run. With 18 seconds left in the period, Shea Theodore scored on the power play, firing home the third goal after a quick faceoff play.
In the second period, Anaheim tried to get back into the game through Mikael Granlund, who cut the deficit at 12:33 of the period with a power-play goal assisted by Troy Terry. However, the hosts could not turn the tide—Vegas goaltender Carter Hart was flawless, making 31 saves in total.
Russian forward Pavel Dorofeev put the game to bed with a brace in the third period. At 2:43, he capitalized on a turnover by Ivan Barbashev in the offensive zone to double the visitors' lead, and at 13:21, he beat Lukas Dostal with a clever shot from a sharp angle. This was Dorofeev's second consecutive brace—he also scored two goals in Game 5, including the overtime winner. With nine goals, the Russian leads the playoff goal-scoring race.
Marner recorded 18 points (7 goals, 11 assists) and continues to lead the playoff scoring race. Goaltender Dostal made only 16 saves on 21 shots, reflecting Anaheim's serious defensive issues, especially glaring given injuries to key defensemen.
Context and Significance
The series between Vegas and Anaheim was dramatic. After four games, the series was tied 2-2, but the Knights' experience then kicked in as they won the final two games by a combined score of 8-3. A key factor was the mid-season coaching change: on March 29, John Tortorella replaced Bruce Cassidy, after which the team went 15-5 and won the Pacific Division.
For Anaheim, this loss was a painful but fitting end to their first playoff appearance in seven years. The team, led by veteran coach Joel Quenneville, had a promising season but ultimately lacked the depth and consistency needed to compete at the highest level. Quenneville acknowledged discipline issues after the game, saying, "We gave up too many quick goals at the start of periods all season."
Special mention goes to the contribution of Russian players to Vegas's success. Besides Dorofeev and Barbashev, it's worth noting that Russian imports largely drive the team's offensive potential, alongside Marner, forming the club's scoring punch in crucial games.
What's Next / Next Game Preview
In the Western Conference Finals, Vegas will face the Presidents' Trophy winners, the Colorado Avalanche. The Denver-based team has dominated through two playoff rounds: first sweeping the Los Angeles Kings (4-0), then dispatching the Minnesota Wild in five games (4-1). Colorado's playoff record stands at 8-1, the best in the league.
Game 1 of the series will be Wednesday in Denver, where Colorado will have home-ice advantage. The regular season ended with the Avalanche holding a 26-point edge over Vegas and winning the season series 2-0-1.
The only previous playoff meeting between the clubs came in the 2021 second round. Then, Vegas lost the first two games but won four straight to advance. Now the situation is reversed: Colorado is the favorite, but the Knights will once again try to rewrite the script. Vegas forward Jack Eichel said, "They've been the best team in the league all year. We know this will be our toughest challenge."
The matchup promises to be one of the most exciting of these playoffs: Colorado relies on offensive firepower and a 25% power-play efficiency in the postseason, while Vegas leans on depth and disciplined defense. The Avalanche have a clear rest advantage—they've played only nine games in two rounds, while Vegas has played twelve. However, the Knights have repeatedly proven they can turn the tide in even the toughest series.
— Editorial Team
