Start Time: 8:00 PM MT / 7:00 PM PT / 10:00 PM ET
Venue: T-Mobile Arena — Las Vegas, NV Broadcast: ESPN (national), Vegas 34 locally, SEG+ / Mammoth+ streaming
This is Game 1 of the 2026 Western Conference First Round.
Injury Report
Utah Mammoth
Sean Durzi (D) — Day‑to‑day, expected return Apr 19
Jack McBain (C) — OUT until Apr 21
Barrett Hayton (C) — OUT until Apr 21
Vegas Golden Knights
No major Game‑1‑impact injuries reported in available sources.
One center is rehabbing and ruled out for start of series (per LVRJ).
Team Records & Statistical Profile
Utah Mammoth (43‑33‑6)
GF/G: 3.27
GA/G: 2.93
Shots For/Against: 27.7 / 26.1
Power Play: 20.0%
Penalty Kill: 78.1%
Shooting %: 11.8%
Save %: .888
Vegas Golden Knights (39‑26‑17)
GF/G: 3.22
GA/G: 2.95
Shots For/Against: 29.0 / 24.4
Power Play: 24.6%
Penalty Kill: 81.4%
Recent Team Form
Utah — Last 5
L 5–3 vs STL
W 5–3 vs WPG
L 4–1 @ CGY
L 4–1 vs CAR
W 4–1 vs NSH
Vegas — Last 5
W 4–1 vs SEA
W 6–2 vs WPG
W 3–2 OT @ COL
L 4–3 SO @ SEA
W 2–1 @ VAN
Vegas enters on a 7‑0‑1 surge under new coach John Tortorella, winning the Pacific Division.
Key Player Matchups
Utah Mammoth
Clayton Keller: 88 points (26 G, 62 A) — team scoring leader
Dylan Guenther: 40 goals — primary finisher
Karel Vejmelka (G): 38‑20‑3, 2.75 GAA, .897 SV%
Vegas Golden Knights
Jack Eichel: 90 points (27 G, 63 A) — elite two‑way center
Pavel Dorofeyev: 37 goals — major scoring threat
Goaltending Committee:
Akira Schmid: 2.59 GAA, .893 SV%
Carter Hart: 2.71 GAA, .891 SV%
Vegas also features Mitch Marner, a major X‑factor with 80 points this season.
Series History & Context
This is the first playoff meeting between the franchises.
Utah won 2 of 3 regular‑season matchups (2‑1‑0), Vegas went 1‑2‑0.
Utah finished with more wins (43) and a better goal differential (+28) than Vegas (+15).
Vegas has deep playoff pedigree: two Stanley Cup Final appearances and a championship three years ago.
Utah is in just its second season since relocating from Arizona and is already a playoff team.
Betting Trends
Utah averages 3.60 goals in last 10 vs Vegas; VGK average 2.10.
Both teams trend 2–6 O/U in last 8 head‑to‑head.
Utah’s PP% (20.0) vs Vegas PK% (81.4) suggests a slight VGK special‑teams edge.
Vegas’ recent surge under Tortorella (7‑0‑1) signals strong momentum.
Game Odds
Utah Mammoth 6.5
Vegas Golden Knights – 155
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Saturday, April 18, 2026
