Knights rally in Game 1, spoiling Mammoth's playoff debut

Vegas overcomes early deficit to take series opener against Utah

Apr. 20, 2026 at 11:10am

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An abstract, energetic painting featuring bold, neon-colored brushstrokes that capture the fast-paced action and emotion of a professional hockey playoff game.The Golden Knights' thrilling comeback victory over the Mammoth in Game 1 showcased the intensity and drama of the NHL playoffs.Las Vegas Today

The Vegas Golden Knights rallied from an early 2-1 deficit to defeat the Utah Mammoth 4-2 in Game 1 of their Western Conference first-round playoff series. Nic Dowd scored the go-ahead goal in the third period and Carter Hart made 31 saves for Vegas, which improved to 8-0-1 since John Tortorella took over as head coach. Logan Cooley and Kevin Stenlund scored for the Mammoth, who were making their first-ever playoff appearance.

Why it matters

This was a crucial Game 1 victory for the Golden Knights, who are looking to make a deep playoff run after a disappointing regular season. The Mammoth, an expansion team, put up a strong fight in their first-ever postseason game, showing they have the potential to be a tough out in the playoffs.

The details

The Mammoth took a 1-0 lead late in the first period on a goal by Logan Cooley. Vegas tied it early in the second, but Utah regained the lead shortly after on a goal by Kevin Stenlund. The Golden Knights then scored three unanswered goals in the third period, including the game-winner by Nic Dowd, to rally for the victory.

  • The game was played on Sunday, April 20, 2026.
  • Cooley scored late in the first period to give Utah the early lead.
  • Sissons tied the game for Vegas early in the second period.
  • Stenlund put Utah back on top just over a minute later in the second.
  • Stone scored the tying goal for Vegas early in the third period.
  • Dowd scored the go-ahead goal for Vegas midway through the third period.

The players

Nic Dowd

The Vegas Golden Knights forward scored the game-winning goal in the third period to lift his team to victory.

Carter Hart

The Vegas Golden Knights goaltender made 31 saves to help his team rally for the win.

Logan Cooley

The Utah Mammoth forward scored the opening goal of the game in the first period.

Kevin Stenlund

The Utah Mammoth forward scored a goal in the second period to give his team a brief lead.

John Tortorella

The Vegas Golden Knights head coach, who has led the team to an 8-0-1 record since taking over.

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What they’re saying

“We knew it was going to be a tough game against a hungry Mammoth team, but our guys showed a lot of resilience to come back and get the win.”

— John Tortorella, Head Coach, Vegas Golden Knights

“It was a tough loss, but we showed we can compete with the best teams in the league. We'll be ready to go in Game 2.”

— Logan Cooley, Forward, Utah Mammoth

What’s next

Game 2 of the series will be played on Tuesday, April 22, 2026 in Las Vegas.

The takeaway

This was an impressive comeback win for the Golden Knights, who showed their resilience and experience in the playoffs. The Mammoth, despite the loss, proved they can hang with the top teams in the league and will look to even the series in Game 2.