2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs: Round 1 vs. UTA
The Golden Knights faced the Utah Mammoth in the first series of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Vegas defeated Utah in six games, going 4-2 in Round 1.
Colton Sissons and Nic Dowd both scored their first playoff goals as Golden Knights, while Mark Stone netted a power-play goal. Ivan Barbashev sealed the 4-2 win with an empty-netter.
The Golden Knights won the first game of the series on April 19 at T-Mobile Arena to go up 1-0 over Utah, but then dropped the next two games, falling behind 2-1.
On April 27, the Golden Knights looked to tie the series 2-2 in Utah before returning to Vegas for Game 5.
Brett Howden scored two goals, while Pavel Dorofeyev and Cole Smith also found the back of the net. By the end of the third period, the game was tied 4-4 and sent to overtime.
With less than one minute remaining in the first overtime, Shea Theodore fired the puck into the back of the net to seal the 5-2 win and tie the series 2-2.
On April 29, the Golden Knights looked to take the series lead in Game 5 at T-Mobile Arena.
Pavel Dorofeyev recorded the first hat trick of his career, and Shea Theodore netted a goal for Vegas. At the end of regulation, the game was all even at 4-4, a tie that lasted through two rounds of overtime. Five minutes into double OT, Brett Howden scored the game-winning goal shorthanded to take Game 5 for Vegas, 5-4.
One year later, down to the exact date, Brett Howden became the overtime hero once again.
With a 3-2 series lead, Vegas traveled back to Utah for Game 6 on May 1, with a chance to seal the series.
The Golden Knights stayed hot, scoring five goals throughout Game 6. Mitch Marner recorded two goals, while Brett Howden, Colton Sissons and Cole Smith found the back of the net for a 5-1 series-clinching win over Utah.
The Golden Knights punched their ticket to the second round to face the Anaheim Ducks for the first time in franchise history. The Round 2 Series will begin on May 4.
By: Katie Freter
