Golden Knights Face Off Against Mammoth in 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs Showdown
The Vegas Golden Knights capped off the 2025-26 NHL regular season with an impressive 10-game point streak (7-0-1) and are looking to maintain their momentum in the postseason after a coaching change. Since John Tortorella took over from Bruce Cassidy in late March, the team has not lost in regulation, and fans in Las Vegas are optimistic as they prepare for the playoffs. Starting Sunday, the Golden Knights will face the Utah Mammoth in the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Vegas secured its second consecutive Pacific Division title and clinched first place in the division with a 4-1 win over the Seattle Kraken on Wednesday. Tortorella, who previously led the Tampa Bay Lightning to a championship in 2004, is at the helm for his sixth NHL team. This marks his first postseason since coaching the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2020. The Golden Knights, who won the Stanley Cup in 2023, have playoff experience on their side, with 11 players from the championship roster still on the team. The Mammoth, making their playoff debut after joining the league as an expansion team in 2024-25, secured the first wild-card spot in the Western Conference. They have faced the Golden Knights three times this season, winning two matchups, although Vegas triumphed in their most recent encounter with a 4-1 victory. In terms of betting odds, the Golden Knights are favored at -160 to -190, while the Mammoth are positioned at +130 to +155. Despite Utah's strong regular-season finish with 43 wins and key players like Dylan Guenther and Nick Schmaltz having career seasons, the playoff experience of the Golden Knights is expected to be a decisive factor. As the series unfolds, the betting community is leaning towards Vegas to advance, emphasizing the challenge the Mammoth face in overcoming such a seasoned opponent.
Source: CBS Sports - 2026-04-17