By Alan Snel, LVSportsBiz.com Publisher-Writer
LAS VEGAS, Nevada — The Vegas Golden Knights jumped out to a beefy 3-0 lead over the upstart Utah Mammoth in Salt Lake City in the Stanley Cup playoffs Monday.
They ended up winning Game 4 in the Best-of-7 first round series and forced a huge Game 5 here in Las Vegas Wednesday.
The VGK win just didn’t come easily in Salt Lake City tonight.
The Mammoth erased their 3-0 deficit with two goals in the second period and another two goals in the third and had a 4-3 lead in the final stanza as a 3-1 series lead was in their sights.
But VGK’s Brett Howden redirected a puck into the goal in the final period of regulation, deadlocking the game, 4-4, and forcing overtime. It was second goal of the game. Pavel Dorofeyev scored early to give Vegas a 1-0 lead, while Col Smith gave the Knights a 3-0 lead in the second period before Utah scored four goals in a row.
The Knights thought they won in the OT, but the refs ruled Jack Eichel was offside.
But VGK defenseman Shea Theodore fire the puck into the net when Utah goalie Karel Vejmelka lost his stick with less than a minute left in overtime.
The Game 5 start time is 7 PM Wednesday in Vegas.
PSA