Nic Dowd’s third-period goal stood as the game-winner, but the Vegas Golden Knights’ fourth line provided the spark in a 4-2 win over the Utah Mammoth in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series Sunday at T-Mobile Arena.
Dowd, Colton Sissons, and Cole Smith combined for two goals and an assist, with Sissons tying the game 1-1 in the second period on a no-look pass from Smith. Dowd then scored early in the third to put Vegas ahead for good.
“I think in the playoffs, there’s not a lot of space out there,” Dowd said. “Teams get really good at defending. It’s hard to score goals. But I think the forechecking, especially with our line, there’s going to be nights in this series and, hopefully beyond, where we’re going to consistently try to do the same thing over and over.”
The line’s physicality was evident, with Smith and Dowd accounting for seven of the Knights’ 52 hits. Sissons finished a team-high plus-3, while Smith and Dowd were plus-2 each.
General manager Kelly McCrimmon acquired Dowd from the Washington Capitals and Smith from the Nashville Predators before the trade deadline, restoring the identity of a fourth line built on relentless forechecking. Coach John Tortorella has used Sissons at right wing due to an abundance of centers.
“I’m very comfortable with (Dowd and Smith),” said Sissons, who also played with Smith in Nashville. “We’re pretty comfortable with each other. Just playing predictable hockey, getting to work on the forecheck and just being heavy to play, heavy on the forecheck.”
Dowd’s goal was his first playoff tally since May 13, 2022, and Sissons scored just his second postseason goal since 2019. After Ivan Barbashev’s empty-netter sealed the win, Dowd got into a heated exchange with Utah center Logan Cooley, leaving Dowd bloodied on the side of his head. Television cameras caught Dowd yelling expletives toward Cooley in the postgame handshake line.
“It’s going to be a grind of a series,” Dowd said. “It’s an emotional game. I thought they played well tonight.”
Game 2 is Tuesday in Las Vegas, with the fourth line expected to again set the tone.
