Kings storm back to beat the Golden Knights 6–5 in a shootout — Dorofeyev’s hat trick, Eichel’s extension, and L.A.’s late push. Full recap, tactics & ramifications.
Kings vs Golden Knights: One-line snapshot
The Los Angeles Kings rallied from multiple deficits to edge the Vegas Golden Knights 6–5 (SO) in a chaotic, high-octane matchup at T-Mobile Arena — Trevor Moore’s short-handed goal and shootout winner highlighted a comeback that spoiled Pavel Dorofeyev’s hat trick and followed Jack Eichel’s big pregame contract extension headlines.
Why Kings vs Golden Knights matters right now
This matchup is a marquee inter-division rivalry with recent playoff pedigree and star power on both sides. The Golden Knights remain one of the NHL’s headline franchises — they opened the night riding offseason moves and a major commitment to Jack Eichel — while the Kings are balancing a veteran nucleus and younger pieces trying to reassert L.A.’s competitiveness. Tonight’s early-season meeting delivered everything fans want: speed, scoring swings, special-teams drama and a late comeback that shifts early impressions about both rosters. The result also matters for early standings in the Pacific Division and for momentum as the schedule ramps up.
Quick scoreboard — the essentials (read these first)
- Final score: Kings 6, Golden Knights 5 (shootout).
- Top performers: Pavel Dorofeyev — hat trick for Vegas; Jack Eichel — 1 goal, 3 assists (also signed an 8-year, $108M extension hours earlier); Quinton Byfield and Andrei Kuzmenko each had a goal & an assist for the Kings; Trevor Moore scored a short-handed goal and the deciding shootout goal.
- Goalies: Anton Forsberg made key saves for the Kings in net (including the shootout clincher); Vegas used their typical tandem (full lineups and netminder notes in the official recap).
- Context: The game was a back-to-back for the Kings (after a loss in the opener) and came on the same day Vegas locked in Eichel long-term. The game swings a season narrative early.
(Those are the five most load-bearing facts most readers will want verified.)
Showbiz, baby ✨#GoKingsGo pic.twitter.com/UxmK6W7pcF
— LA Kings (@LAKings) October 9, 2025
How the drama unfolded — period by period
First period — trading punches
The game opened as a fast, open affair. Vegas struck early with Pavel Dorofeyev converting chances and the Knights’ top units flashing cohesion. The Kings answered with secondary contributions — Byfield and Kuzmenko each found daylight — and the period closed with the sense both teams were prepared to run in transition. The early back-and-forth foreshadowed the wild scoring night to come.
Second period — lead changes & high event hockey
Dorofeyev continued to produce, and the Knights temporarily held leads twice. The Kings, however, matched the intensity: Quinton Byfield and Andrei Kuzmenko combined for multi-point nights, and L.A. rode power plays and short-handed opportunism — Trevor Moore netted a short-handed goal that swung the emotional tide late in the frame. Both teams traded goals; the scoreboard read volatile but the momentum was shifting toward L.A. by the intermission.
Third period & overtime — comeback completed, drama extends
Vegas scored early in the third to reassert an advantage, but L.A. kept chipping away. The Kings erased a two-goal deficit late in the period when Brandt Clarke and Moore connected (with Clarke’s tying goal forcing overtime). In overtime, both clubs had chances but no decisive finish; the shootout — a brief stage where finesse and nerve decide outcomes — would ultimately favor the Kings when Moore and Adrian Kempe converted and goalie Anton Forsberg made the key glove save.
Player spotlights — who mattered
Pavel Dorofeyev — dangerous sniper for Vegas
Dorofeyev exploded for a hat trick and was a constant threat in transition for Vegas. His finish-rate on chances and ability to find soft spots in L.A.’s coverage produced the bulk of Vegas’s scoring and showed why he’s a player opposing coaches must game-plan for. That he did this against a top pairing and a physical forecheck underlines his finishing instincts.
Jack Eichel — the headline and the hand in the game
Eichel’s day had two big narratives: first, the team announced an 8-year, $108 million extension hours before puck drop — a franchise-level financial commitment that stabilizes Vegas’s center depth; second, he backed the front-office vote of confidence with 1G and 3A on the ice. Eichel’s playmaking was integral to Vegas’s offense and his point total validated the decision to keep him long term.
Quinton Byfield & Andrei Kuzmenko — multi-point Kings catalysts
Byfield and Kuzmenko each posted a goal and an assist, mixing power and playmaking. Byfield’s ability to win board battles and use his size to create second-chance opportunities undermined Vegas’s defensive coverage, while Kuzmenko’s skating and shot quality created high-danger chances. Their two-way contributions aided L.A.’s comeback and showed the Kings’ depth can carry them in tight spots.
Trevor Moore — short-handed specialist & shooter
Moore’s short-handed goal changed momentum and his composure in the shootout (scoring the clincher) made him the evening’s feel-good hero. Short-handed goals are rare and often deflate the attacking team; Moore’s finish was a textbook swing moment.
Tactical analysis — how L.A. engineered the comeback
- Special teams flexibility: The Kings converted on a timely penalty kill with a short-handed goal and leaned on opportunistic power-play chances to apply scoreboard pressure. That mix of opportunism plus discipline was decisive late.
- Line juggling & matchups: Coach Todd McLellan adjusted matchups to minimize Dorofeyev’s coverage windows and sought heavy looks on Eichel’s line to try and seize puck possession. Byfield and Kuzmenko were deployed in matchups designed to exploit Vegas’s transitional vulnerabilities.
- Net-minder timing: The Kings’ goalie made critical saves to stay in the game and then to win the shootout; the psychological value of that kind of goaltending — particularly in shootout scenarios — is enormous and the backbone of late comebacks.
[Note: Images are collected from Instagram]
What the Eichel extension means for Vegas — beyond the game
The Golden Knights announced an 8-year, $108 million extension for Jack Eichel earlier on game day, locking in the center who has been a core of their attack since the trade from Buffalo. The deal is noteworthy for several reasons:
- Stability & ceiling: Eichel’s extension keeps a top-line center with elite playmaking at the top of Vegas’s depth chart and signals the organization’s belief in a championship window. It also sends a message to free-agency markets that Vegas intends to keep its core.
- Cap planning: A large long-term deal forces roster-building choices, and the Golden Knights may prioritize internal development and complementary role players over expensive external additions. The Eichel contract reshapes Vegas’s flexibility and long-range planning. (New York Post)
- On-ice expectation: Eichel responded by producing 4 points; high investment often correlates with higher expectation, and the club will expect consistent first-line outcomes from him.
Advanced metrics & what the numbers show
- Expected goals (xG): The game’s xG shifted toward Vegas early because Dorofeyev’s high-quality looks were generated in transition; by the third period L.A.’s cumulative xG closed the gap due to better zone time and second-chance opportunities. (See postgame analytics: NHL.com game centre & PuckIQ for play-by-play xG charts.)
- Shot quality: Dorofeyev’s finishes came on high-danger chances, reflecting good finishing and quality chance creation. For L.A., Byfield and Kuzmenko were effective at the net-front and on rebounds — high-value micro-zones that increase goals scored probability.
- Special teams impact: A short-handed goal and a successful penalty kill early in the comeback swung win probability more than any single even-strength sequence — hockey’s small margins matter.
If you embed an xG chart or shot map, highlight where Dorofeyev’s hat trick chances originated and where L.A. generated their tying chances (net front, high slot). Use NHL.com’s game page for authoritative play-by-play. (NHL)
Coaching & roster takeaways
For the Kings (Todd McLellan / management)
- Depth validated: Multi-line scoring from Byfield, Kuzmenko and Moore proves the Kings’ top-nine can produce when activated.
- Goaltending confidence: Forsberg’s debut/return saved key moments; that steadiness matters over the long road trip.
- Adjustments to keep: The ability to flip matchups and deploy special units in high-leverage moments must continue if the Kings want consistency.
For the Golden Knights (Bruce Cassidy / management)
- Finish despite loss: Dorofeyev’s hat trick and Eichel’s multi-point effort are positives — Vegas can score. The problem was allowing the comeback and late defensive lapses.
- Cap & roster building: With Eichel signed, GM Kelly McCrimmon can plan the season with a clear top-line identity; the club must now address depth defense and late-game shortfalls.
Fan reaction & social pulse
Social channels exploded — highlight reels of Dorofeyev’s finishes, Moore’s short-handed goal, and the shootout clincher circulated widely. Vegas fans celebrated the Eichel news but lamented the loss; Kings supporters celebrated a signature road result that could galvanize the young season. Beat writers emphasized storyline hooks: Eichel’s contract day production, Dorofeyev’s emergence, and the Kings’ late resilience. (Reuters)
Injury & availability notes
Pre-game injury reports showed both teams close to full strength; Vegas reported no major injuries ahead of puck drop while Kings used their projected lines with minor scratches noted. As the season is young, expect the usual early management of minutes and recovery. For daily updates check CBS Sports’ injury hub and team beat reports. (CBS Sports)
What this result means in the standings & short-term schedule
- Early season feel: A single game doesn’t define a season but close, dramatic wins or losses set tone and confidence for the first road trip or homestand. The Kings walk out of Vegas with two regulation outcomes in two nights (a loss and a shootout win) that reveal resilience; the Golden Knights take a moral victory in offensive explosion but must clean up late collapse spells.
- Next matchups: Both teams will have to manage travel and quick turnarounds — watch how coaches use their bottom-six and secondary defensemen to keep legs fresh. (Check schedule on NHL.com for exact upcoming dates.) (NHL)