Golden Knights and Mammoth Clash in Playoffs

Two hot teams face off in first-round NHL playoff matchup

Apr. 19, 2026 at 12:00am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting the action and energy of an NHL playoff hockey game, with sharp, overlapping planes of color representing the competing teams.Two NHL powerhouses collide in an intense first-round playoff clash, with the winner advancing to the next round.Las Vegas Today

The Vegas Golden Knights and Utah Mammoth are set to meet in the first round of the NHL playoffs, with both teams surging into the postseason. While the regular season results may provide some insight, the intensity and dynamics of playoff hockey are vastly different, setting the stage for an intriguing series between these two hot squads.

Why it matters

The NHL playoffs reset the stakes, with teams needing to elevate their game to advance. This first-round matchup between the Golden Knights and Mammoth features two clubs that have found their stride at the perfect time, making for an exciting and unpredictable series that could set the tone for the rest of the playoffs.

The details

The Golden Knights and Mammoth finished the regular season playing excellent hockey, with both teams securing playoff berths. Vegas and Utah split their four regular season meetings, but the postseason brings a new level of intensity and strategy that could lead to a vastly different outcome.

  • The Golden Knights and Mammoth will begin their first-round playoff series on April 25, 2026.

The players

Vegas Golden Knights

The Vegas Golden Knights are an NHL franchise based in Las Vegas, Nevada, that began play in the 2017-18 season.

Utah Mammoth

The Utah Mammoth are an NHL franchise based in Salt Lake City, Utah, that began play in the 2020-21 season.

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What’s next

The winner of the Golden Knights-Mammoth series will advance to the second round of the NHL playoffs.

The takeaway

This first-round playoff matchup between the surging Golden Knights and Mammoth promises an intense and unpredictable series, as both teams look to elevate their game and make a deep playoff run.