Golden Knights Eliminate Utah Mammoth 5-1, Set Up Ducks Series at T-Mobile Arena
Mitch Marner scored twice and Carter Hart made 21 saves as Vegas closed out Utah on the road Friday night.
The Vegas Golden Knights eliminated the Utah Mammoth with a 5-1 victory in Game 6 at Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, winning the first-round series 4-2 and advancing to face the Anaheim Ducks in the second round. Game 1 of that series will be held at T-Mobile Arena, though the date has not yet been announced. Mitch Marner scored twice for his first playoff goals as a Knight, and Brett Howden added his fourth goal in three games.
Marner, Howden Lead Vegas Offense in Decisive Game 6
Howden opened the scoring with 4:58 remaining in the first period, converting on a weak-side rebound to give Vegas a 1-0 lead. The Knights held a 10-6 edge in shots through the opening frame, setting the tone for a controlled road performance.
Marner delivered what proved to be the decisive blow with 44.1 seconds left in the second period, pinning Utah in its own zone for more than two minutes before blasting a shot from the right faceoff circle. The goal made it 2-0 and gave Vegas a cushion heading into the third. Marner added a second goal late in the game when Shea Theodore's shot deflected onto his blade and he ripped it home from the slot, finishing with two goals and three points on the night.
Utah briefly threatened in the third period when Kailer Yamamoto took a long breakout pass from Mikhail Sergachev and converted a wrist shot past Carter Hart at 7:41, cutting the deficit to 2-1. But Colton Sissons answered 1:58 later, pouncing on a rebound off Brayden McNabb's shot to restore the two-goal lead. Cole Smith added an empty-net goal with 3:35 remaining to seal the result.
Hart Steady as Knights Withstand Utah's Second-Period Push
Hart finished with 21 saves and carried a shutout for nearly 48 minutes before Yamamoto's goal broke through. He stopped all seven shots he faced in the second period as Utah pressed to get back into the game. The Knights' penalty-killing units also held firm, going 2-for-2 on the night.
Coach John Tortorella had been asked before the game whether Vegas needed a fast start. His response was characteristically measured. The Knights delivered one regardless, controlling play from the opening faceoff and limiting Utah's opportunities as the game progressed.
A Familiar Script: Same Situation, Same Result as Last Year
The path to this series clincher closely mirrored Vegas's first-round run in 2024. The Knights trailed the series 2-1 after a Game 3 road loss, then responded with back-to-back overtime wins before closing out Game 6 convincingly, the same sequence that ended their series against the Minnesota Wild last spring.
The parallels extended further. Howden scored the game-winner in Game 5 of this series in double overtime. One year earlier to the day, he scored the overtime winner against Minnesota. Entering Game 6, the Knights held a 6-0 record in series where they led 3-2 and the best-of-seven began at home, and 7-1 overall in that situation.
Experience was a recurring theme throughout the series. Utah's young roster had its chances, holding third-period leads in both Games 4 and 5 before the Knights found tying goals and wore the Mammoth down in overtime. Three overtime periods in a 48-hour span visibly took a toll on Utah heading into the finale.
Ducks Await After Stunning Oilers Upset
The Knights' second-round opponent arrives with momentum of its own. Anaheim upset the two-time Western Conference champion Edmonton Oilers in six games, setting up what will be the first-ever playoff matchup between the Interstate-15 rivals.
Game 1 is scheduled for T-Mobile Arena. A specific date has not yet been announced.
What we know
- The Golden Knights defeated the Utah Mammoth 5-1 in Game 6 at Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, winning the series 4-2.
- Mitch Marner scored twice in Game 6 for his first playoff goals as a member of the Golden Knights.
- Brett Howden scored his fourth goal in three games, opening the scoring in the first period.
- Carter Hart made 21 saves and carried a shutout for nearly 48 minutes before Kailer Yamamoto scored for Utah.
- Colton Sissons scored 1:58 after Yamamoto's goal to restore Vegas's two-goal lead.
- The Golden Knights will face the Anaheim Ducks in the second round, with Game 1 at T-Mobile Arena. The date has not been announced.
- Anaheim eliminated the Edmonton Oilers in six games to advance to the second round.
- Entering Game 6, the Knights held a 6-0 record in series where they led 3-2 and the best-of-seven began at home, and 7-1 overall in that situation.
The take
Vegas's ability to replicate last year's first-round formula almost exactly speaks to something deeper than luck. The Golden Knights have built one of the NHL's most consistent playoff cultures since their 2018 expansion debut, and that culture shows up most clearly in elimination-game situations on the road. Closing out a series in six games, on the opponent's ice, after trailing 2-1, is a test most franchises fail. Vegas has now done it in back-to-back springs.
The Anaheim matchup is genuinely interesting from a structural standpoint. The Ducks are a young, fast team that just knocked off a heavyweight in Edmonton, which means they arrive with confidence and nothing to lose. That is a dangerous combination. Historically, second-round series between an experienced contender and a surging underdog tend to hinge on goaltending depth and special teams, two areas where Vegas has shown strength throughout this series. Hart's steadiness and the penalty kill's consistency will matter even more against a Ducks team that generated enough offense to push the Oilers out in six. The Interstate-15 geography adds a regional dimension that the league will market heavily, but on the ice, the series figures to be a genuine test of whether Vegas's experience advantage holds against a team with nothing to protect.
Why it matters
For Las Vegas fans, this second-round berth confirms the Knights remain a legitimate Stanley Cup contender despite a regular season that had its share of turbulence. The Ducks series will be the first playoff meeting between these two California-adjacent franchises, giving the matchup a fresh storyline. More broadly, the Knights' ability to absorb a 2-1 series deficit and respond with four straight wins, including three overtime games, signals a team that knows how to manage playoff pressure in ways younger rosters simply cannot replicate.
What’s next
The Golden Knights will open their second-round series against the Anaheim Ducks at T-Mobile Arena. A specific date for Game 1 has not yet been announced. Anaheim advanced after eliminating the Edmonton Oilers in six games.
Frequently asked questions
What was the final score of Golden Knights vs. Mammoth Game 6?
The Golden Knights won 5-1, clinching the first-round series 4-2.
Who scored for the Golden Knights in Game 6?
Brett Howden, Mitch Marner (twice), Colton Sissons, and Cole Smith scored for Vegas. Kailer Yamamoto scored Utah's only goal.
Who will the Golden Knights play in the second round?
The Golden Knights will face the Anaheim Ducks, who eliminated the Edmonton Oilers in six games.
Where is Game 1 of the Golden Knights vs. Ducks series?
Game 1 will be at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The date has not yet been announced.
How did the Golden Knights come back after trailing the series 2-1?
Vegas won back-to-back overtime games in Games 4 and 5, then closed out the series with a 5-1 win in Game 6 at Delta Center.