Golden Knights Muscle Their Way To 4-2 Victory Over Utah In Game 1 Of Opening Round
LAS VEGAS -- The Golden Knights successfully carried their regular-season ending momentum into the postseason by overcoming a two-goal deficit with three third-period goals for a 4-2 win over the Utah Mammoth in Game 1 of their opening round series. Captain Mark Stone scored the equalizer with a power-play goal 5:33 into the third period, Nic Dowd fired the even-strength game-winner in at the 7:20 mark, and Ivan Barbashev put the game away with an empty-net goal with 1:39 remaining. EXPRESSIVE!!!
MARK!!! STONE!!!!!!!!! pic.
twitter. com/Y748AAQBVZ — y - Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) April 20, 2026 Vegas, which closed the regular season 7-0-1 after coach John Tortorella took over for fired Bruce Cassidy, also got a goal from Colton Sissons in the second period. Goaltender Carter Hart continued his own personal hot streak by stopping 31 shots, including the only two Utah could manage during its lone power-play opportunity.
🎥 Hear from Head Coach John Tortorella, Cole Smith, Ivan Barbashev, Nic Dowd, and Colton Sissons following Sunday’s Round 1 Game 1 win against the Mammoth. Full video on our YouTube Channel: https://t. co/SjXIWnJcKQ pic.
twitter. com/ZcMh1q9Sx5 — y - Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) April 20, 2026 KEY MOMENT The Mammoth could've seized momentum early in the game when Dylan Guenther had time and space in the low slot, but was stymied by Hart, whose pad save kept the game scoreless. While he had a handful of key stops throughout the game, especially down the stretch, it was the early save that likely instilled confidence for Hart and kept Utah from taking control just four minutes into the game.