NHL Sets Dates for Utah Mammoth-Vegas Playoff Series

The Mammoth make the playoffs in just their second season in Salt Lake City.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 12:36pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A cubist, geometric painting depicting a hockey game in motion, with the players and action broken down into sharp, overlapping planes of color representing the official palettes of the Utah Mammoth and Vegas Golden Knights.The Utah Mammoth's first-ever playoff series against the Vegas Golden Knights promises an intense, high-energy matchup between two rising NHL franchises.Salt Lake City Today

The NHL has announced the schedule for the first-round playoff series between the Utah Mammoth and the Vegas Golden Knights. The series will open on Sunday in Las Vegas, with the Mammoth hosting Games 3 and 4 in Salt Lake City.

Why it matters

The Mammoth's playoff berth in just their second season in Salt Lake City is a major accomplishment, showing the team's front office has quickly built a contender. The series against the Golden Knights will be a tough test, but a strong showing could raise the profile of hockey in Utah.

The details

The series will open with Game 1 on Sunday, April 20 at 8 p.m. MT in Las Vegas, followed by Game 2 on Monday at 7:30 p.m. MT, also in Vegas. The series then shifts to Salt Lake City for Game 3 on Friday, April 24 at 7:30 p.m. MT and Game 4 on Monday, April 27 with a time to be determined. If necessary, Games 5, 6, and 7 will be played on April 29, May 1, and May 3 with times to be determined.

  • The series will open on Sunday, April 20 at 8 p.m. MT in Las Vegas.
  • Game 2 will be played on Monday, April 21 at 7:30 p.m. MT in Las Vegas.
  • Game 3 will be played on Friday, April 24 at 7:30 p.m. MT in Salt Lake City.
  • Game 4 will be played on Monday, April 27 in Salt Lake City with a time to be determined.

The players

Utah Mammoth

The Utah Mammoth are an NHL team based in Salt Lake City, Utah. They are in just their second season in the league after being an expansion team.

Vegas Golden Knights

The Vegas Golden Knights are an NHL team based in Las Vegas, Nevada. They are one of the newer franchises in the league, having joined in 2017.

Bill Armstrong

The general manager of the Utah Mammoth, who has quickly built a contending team in their second season.

Clayton Keller

The captain of the Utah Mammoth and one of the team's top forwards.

Logan Cooley

A young star forward for the Utah Mammoth.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What’s next

The winner of the Utah Mammoth-Vegas Golden Knights series will advance to the second round of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The takeaway

The Utah Mammoth's playoff berth in just their second season is a major accomplishment for the franchise, showcasing the team's quick rise to contention. Their series against the Vegas Golden Knights will be a tough test, but a strong showing could help grow the sport of hockey in Utah.