3 takeaways from Knights’ win: Dorofeyev shows nose for scoring — PHOTOS

Cotton swabs up his nose and his breathing likely impaired, Pavel Dorofeyev still knew how to shoot.

Hats were flung in his honor.

Dorofeyev recorded the second hat trick of his career, and the Knights stifled the Boston Bruins in a 5-1 win on Thursday night at T-Mobile Arena.

The 24-year-old right winger notched his fourth multigoal game of the season, and second three-goal game, to reach the 30-goal mark for the first time in his career. He had 13 goals in 47 games last season.

“He’s been confident all year,” coach Bruce Cassidy said. “He’s a low-maintenance guy. Puts the work in, put a lot of work in this summer. He’s progressively gotten better throughout our organization. That’s usually the tell of a guy that’s working.”

Dorofeyev’s first hat trick came Jan. 14 in a 5-3 loss in Nashville.

In between him supplying the offense, Dorofeyev went down the tunnel with 4:37 left in the second period after getting clipped in the face with a Boston stick.

He returned to the bench with gauze up both nostrils. On his first shift back, he fired a wrister from the right faceoff dot to make it 2-0 with 50 seconds left.

“I think we all kind of noticed it in camp this year. Just a natural goal scorer,” defenseman Noah Hanifin said. “If he gets an opportunity and a grade-A chance, he’s going to score and capitalize. Getting players like that are pretty rare. He’s been unbelievable for us this year.”

Goaltender Adin Hill made 18 saves, and center Brett Howden scored to help the Knights (40-20-8) reach the 40-win mark for the seventh time in franchise history, the most by any team in its first eight seasons.

The Knights, following three days rest, were coming off a rough end to a four-game eastern road trip after losses in Buffalo and Detroit.

They got the kind of start they were looking for with 11 shots on Boston goaltender Jeremy Swayman in the first period, but Swayman stood tall with big saves to keep the Bruins (30-31-9) within striking distance.

The Knights built off the first with a strong second period and were rewarded with Dorofeyev’s power-play goal at 9:19 to make it 1-0.

“I thought we stuck with it,” Hanifin said. “First period, we slowly started building our game. (We) started getting some more O-zone possession time. Just a good effort for 60 minutes.”

Howden made it 3-0 at 5:47 of the third on a three-on-one, and Dorofeyev completed the hat trick on a rebound at 10:21 for a 4-0 lead.

This time, he only had one piece of gauze in his nose.

Left wing Ivan Barbashev made it 5-0 at 14:24. Bruins forward Morgan Geekie ended Hill’s shutout bid with 2:11 left.

The Bruins aren’t the same team anymore after moving on from many key contributors at the trade deadline, including former captain Brad Marchand.

The Knights still controlled play for all 60 minutes in a much-needed effort.

Three takeaways from the win:

1. Karlsson returns

Center William Karlsson had an assist in his return to the lineup after missing 20 games with a lower-body injury.

“I think I adjusted pretty quick,” Karlsson said. “I didn’t feel like it was super fast out there. It felt like it usually is.”

Karlsson, who hadn’t played since Jan. 20, was reunited with left wing Reilly Smith. The Original Misfits skated together for the first time since Smith was reacquired in a trade with the New York Rangers on March 6.

“Ever since (the trade) was done, I’ve been itching more to come back, even more than I wanted already,” Karlsson said. “Hopefully we get some games in together and have some fun out there.”

Karlsson, who was a plus-1 in 15:57 of ice time, fired a backhand pass from the corner to a cutting Smith in the first period, but Swayman made the save.

It looked like old times.

“I liked his game a lot. Thought he did some good things,” Cassidy said. “Checked the box tonight. Helped us win a game as usual.”

2. Crucial penalty kill

The Knights’ best shift of the first period might have been short-handed. It was needed given the situation.

Captain Mark Stone was called for tripping Bruins forward John Beecher at 6:49 of the first. Only, he didn’t trip Beecher. Stone’s stick hit the ice, and Beecher fell.

The crowd loudly let the officials know it. The Knights, needing a big penalty kill early in the game, got it.

Two of their best scoring chances of the period came on that kill, one from Karlsson and from left wing Brandon Saad.

Stone and center Jack Eichel would’ve had a two-on-one if not for the whistle.

“It’s not only the penalty call. We have the puck going the other way. It’s a double whammy,” Cassidy said. “The kill was important. All of a sudden, Boston can have life. They’re in our building, they can take the lead.”

3. Saad’s best game

Saad played his 16th game with the Knights, and it was by far his best outing.

Saad had two assists and a number of chances to find the back of the net, but couldn’t get one past Swayman.

“I think just playing aggressive, playing with pace,” Saad said. “As a line (with Dorofeyev and Tomas Hertl), we’re doing a good job of holding onto pucks and playing in the O-zone. When you do that, you’re going to feel good.”

It was the first time Saad’s speed was noticeable, and it got his line going. He drew a hooking call on Beecher in the second period because of it.

He just wasn’t the best player on his line Thursday. That honor belonged to Dorofeyev.

Contact Danny Webster at dwebster@reviewjournal.com. Follow @DannyWebster21 on X.