Vegas Golden Knights center Brett Howden (21) skates past the bench after scoring a short-handed goal against Utah Mammoth during the first period of Game 4 of a first-round NHL Stanley Cup playoff series at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, April 27, 2026. Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
Jackson Payne
By Jackson Payne
Jackson has been writing about sports for the Deseret News since 2023.

The Vegas Golden Knights just won one of the most outrageous playoff games you’ll ever see in the NHL.

Playing in front of a hostile road crowd, Vegas jumped to an early 3-0 lead in Monday’s first-round matchup against the Utah Mammoth.

Utah responded with four unanswered goals — including two in a 30-second span — before the Golden Knights scored again to force overtime.

Vegas’ first goal of the bonus period was negated due to an offsides call, only for Shea Theodore to find the back of the net for the win less than a minute before the start of double OT, deflating the raucous Delta Center crowd.

With the chaotic 5-4 victory, the Golden Knights have tied the series at two games apiece, and more importantly, prevented Utah from taking a 3-1 series advantage.

“We just didn’t quit,” Theodore said. “Even in the second (period) when we’d given up a couple (goals), you know, we had a lead going into the third and were feeling good about our game. We never stopped.”

Added Vegas head coach John Tortorella, “We started really well, lost ourselves for a bit, momentum swung to (Utah’s) side, but we hung in there.

“... Everybody contributed, and going down in the third period, getting scored on twice, and coming back to win, that’s something we can lean on as we keep on moving in these games.”

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Vegas Golden Knights right wing Cole Smith (22) celebrates after scoring against Utah Mammoth goaltender Karel Vejmelka (70) during the second period of Game 4 of a first-round NHL Stanley Cup playoff series at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, April 27, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Carson Froerer celebrates after the Vegas Golden Knights winning goal was overturned for offsides during overtime of Game 4 of a first-round NHL Stanley Cup playoff series against the Utah Mammoth at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, April 27, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Utah Mammoth goaltender Karel Vejmelka (70) dives on the rebound of a shot by Vegas Golden Knights right wing Mitch Marner (93) during the second period of Game 4 of a first-round NHL Stanley Cup playoff series at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, April 27, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Utah Mammoth left wing Michael Carcone (53) beats Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Carter Hart (79) but misses the goal high during the first period of Game 4 of a first-round NHL Stanley Cup playoff series at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, April 27, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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The Vegas Golden Knights celebrate an overtime winning goal before it was called off for offsides during Game 4 of a first-round NHL Stanley Cup playoff series against the Utah Mammoth at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, April 27, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Jeremy Lauzon (5) blocks a shot during the first period of Game 4 of a first-round NHL Stanley Cup playoff series against the Utah Mammoth at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, April 27, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Utah Mammoth right wing Clayton Keller (9) shoots during overtime of Game 4 of a first-round NHL Stanley Cup playoff series against the Vegas Golden Knights at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, April 27, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Fans collect themselves after the Utah Mammoth lost 5-4 to the Vegas Golden Knights in overtime of Game 4 of a first-round NHL Stanley Cup playoff series at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, April 27, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Shea Theodore (27) celebrates with defenseman Brayden McNabb (3) after scoring the winning goal in overtime of Game 4 of a first-round NHL Stanley Cup playoff series against the Utah Mammoth at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, April 27, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Vegas Golden Knights left wing Ivan Barbashev (49) and center Brett Howden (21) celebrate the game-winning goal by Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Shea Theodore (27), not pictured, during overtime of Game 4 of a first-round NHL Stanley Cup playoff series against the Utah Mammoth at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, April 27, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Shea Theodore (27) celebrates with defenseman Brayden McNabb (3), right wing Reilly Smith (19) and right wing Mark Stone (61) after scoring the winning goal in overtime of Game 4 of a first-round NHL Stanley Cup playoff series against the Utah Mammoth at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, April 27, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Fans collect themselves after the Utah Mammoth lost 5-4 to the Vegas Golden Knights in overtime of Game 4 of a first-round NHL Stanley Cup playoff series at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, April 27, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Utah Mammoth goaltender Karel Vejmelka (70) makes a save against Vegas Golden Knights center Jack Eichel (9) during overtime of Game 4 of a first-round NHL Stanley Cup playoff series at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, April 27, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Utah Mammoth center Logan Cooley (92) is checked as he tries to skate between Vegas Golden Knights right wing Reilly Smith (19) and defenseman Noah Hanifin (15) during overtime of Game 4 of a first-round NHL Stanley Cup playoff series at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, April 27, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Fans anxiously watch overtime of Game 4 of a first-round NHL Stanley Cup playoff series between the Utah Mammoth and the Vegas Golden Knights at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, April 27, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Utah Mammoth right wing Kailer Yamamoto (56) slips a pass around Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Noah Hanifin (15) during overtime of Game 4 of a first-round NHL Stanley Cup playoff series at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, April 27, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Fans anxiously watch overtime of Game 4 of a first-round NHL Stanley Cup playoff series between the Utah Mammoth and the Vegas Golden Knights at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, April 27, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Utah Mammoth right wing Kailer Yamamoto (56) skates between Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Noah Hanifin (15) and right wing Reilly Smith (19) during overtime of Game 4 of a first-round NHL Stanley Cup playoff series at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, April 27, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Vegas Golden Knights right wing Mark Stone (61) skates with the puck during overtime of Game 4 of a first-round NHL Stanley Cup playoff series against the Utah Mammoth at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, April 27, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Utah Mammoth goaltender Karel Vejmelka (70) pokes the puck away from his crease during the second period of Game 4 of a first-round NHL Stanley Cup playoff series against the Vegas Golden Knights at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, April 27, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Utah Mammoth right wing Clayton Keller (9) celebrates after scoring during the third period of Game 4 of a first-round NHL Stanley Cup playoff series against the Vegas Golden Knights at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, April 27, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Utah Mammoth left wing Michael Carcone (53) celebrates after scoring during the third period to tie the game at 3-3 during Game 4 of a first-round NHL Stanley Cup playoff series against the Vegas Golden Knights at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, April 27, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Utah Mammoth left wing Michael Carcone (53) celebrates after scoring during the third period to tie Game 4 of a first-round NHL Stanley Cup playoff series against the Vegas Golden Knights at 3-3 at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, April 27, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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A young fan cheers after a goal by Utah Mammoth right wing Clayton Keller (9) during the third period of Game 4 of a first-round NHL Stanley Cup playoff series against the Vegas Golden Knights at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, April 27, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Utah Mammoth center Nick Schmaltz (8) celebrates with defenseman MacKenzie Weegar (52) and left wing Lawson Crouse (67) after scoring during the second period of Game 4 of a first-round NHL Stanley Cup playoff series against the Vegas Golden Knights at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, April 27, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Vegas Golden Knights right wing Cole Smith (22) celebrates after scoring during the second period of Game 4 of a first-round NHL Stanley Cup playoff series against the Utah Mammoth at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, April 27, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Vegas Golden Knights right wing Mitch Marner (93) reacts after a whistle during the second period of Game 4 of a first-round NHL Stanley Cup playoff series against the Utah Mammoth at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, April 27, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Utah Mammoth defenseman Mikhail Sergachev (98) passes the puck during the second period of Game 4 of a first-round NHL Stanley Cup playoff series against the Vegas Golden Knights at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, April 27, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Utah Mammoth defenseman Ian Cole (28) celebrates with teammates after scoring during the second period of Game 4 of a first-round NHL Stanley Cup playoff series against the Vegas Golden Knights at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, April 27, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Utah Mammoth right wing JJ Peterka (77) checks Vegas Golden Knights center Tomáš Hertl (48) into the boards during the first period of Game 4 of a first-round NHL Stanley Cup playoff series at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, April 27, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Utah Mammoth center Logan Cooley (92) skates during warmups before Game 4 of a first-round NHL Stanley Cup playoff series against the Vegas Golden Knights at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, April 27, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Vegas Golden Knights right wing Pavel Dorofeyev (16) celebrates with left wing Ivan Barbashev (49) after scoring during the first period of Game 4 of a first-round NHL Stanley Cup playoff series against the Utah Mammoth at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, April 27, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Vegas Golden Knights center Brett Howden (21) skates past the bench after scoring a a short-handed goal against Utah Mammoth during the first period of Game 4 of a first-round NHL Stanley Cup playoff series at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, April 27, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Utah Mammoth right wing Dylan Guenther (11) passes the puck during the first period of Game 4 of a first-round NHL Stanley Cup playoff series against the Vegas Golden Knights at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, April 27, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Utah Mammoth right wing Clayton Keller (9) looks on before a faceoff during the first period of Game 4 of a first-round NHL Stanley Cup playoff series against the Vegas Golden Knights at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, April 27, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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The Vegas Golden Knights bench reacts after a shorthanded goal by Vegas Golden Knights center Brett Howden (21) during the first period of Game 4 of a first-round NHL Stanley Cup playoff series against the Utah Mammoth at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, April 27, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Kaedan Korczak (6) controls the puck ahead of Utah Mammoth center Liam O'Brien (38) during the first period of Game 4 of a first-round NHL Stanley Cup playoff series at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, April 27, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Utah Mammoth defenseman Nate Schmidt (88) makes a pass during the first period of Game 4 of a first-round NHL Stanley Cup playoff series against the Vegas Golden Knights at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, April 27, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Utah Mammoth center Logan Cooley (92) looks on before taking a faceoff during the first period of Game 4 of a first-round NHL Stanley Cup playoff series against the Vegas Golden Knights at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, April 27, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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A young fan peers from behind a hat during the national anthem before Game 4 of a first-round NHL Stanley Cup playoff series between the Utah Mammoth and the Vegas Golden Knights at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, April 27, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Fans wave rally towels before puck drop of Game 4 of a first-round NHL Stanley Cup playoff series between the Utah Mammoth and the Vegas Golden Knights at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, April 27, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Kaedan Korczak (6) attempts to push Utah Mammoth left wing Lawson Crouse (67) out of the way as he screens the view of Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Carter Hart (79) during the first period of Game 4 of a first-round NHL Stanley Cup playoff series at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, April 27, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Utah Mammoth left wing Brandon Tanev (13) reacts after being tripped up during the first period of Game 4 of a first-round NHL Stanley Cup playoff series against the Vegas Golden Knights at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, April 27, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Utah Mammoth defenseman Nate Schmidt’s wife watches the team warm up ahead of Game 4 of a first-round NHL Stanley Cup playoff series between the Utah Mammoth and the Vegas Golden Knights at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, April 27, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Vegas Golden Knights fans look on during warmups before Game 4 of a first-round NHL Stanley Cup playoff series between the Utah Mammoth and the Vegas Golden Knights at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, April 27, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Fans look on before Game 4 of a first-round NHL Stanley Cup playoff series between the Utah Mammoth and the Vegas Golden Knights at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, April 27, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Utah Mammoth center Alexander Kerfoot (15) smiles after blowing a kiss to his daughter Carrera during warmups before Game 4 of a first-round NHL Stanley Cup playoff series against the Vegas Golden Knights at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, April 27, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News

While Vegas went from celebrating what it thought to be the game-winner back to playing in a do-or-die situation in a matter of minutes following the offsides call, the Golden Knights refused to be distracted by their bad luck and remained focused on finishing the fight.

“We have such a mature group,” said Vegas center Brett Howden, who scored two goals on the night. “We were watching (the offsides goal) on the jumbotron, and we were thinking it may get called back, but we didn’t waver. We stuck with it, we didn’t let it affect us.”

Theodore, a key member of Vegas’ 2023 Stanley Cup championship run, played hero in avenging the offsides score, beating Karel Vejmelka for his first career overtime game-winner in the playoffs.

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“It’s great,” Theodore said. “I think especially close to the end of the first overtime, you know, you don’t really want to go to the second, but (winning) is just a good feeling.

“... I feel like we kept our foot on the gas, and scoring an OT game-winner, you know, it’s pretty special.”

With the series now knotted at two wins for each side, the Mammoth and Golden Knights will head back down to Las Vegas for Wednesday’s pivotal fifth game.

“It’s a good one we can put in our pocket,” Tortorella said. “We’ll get on the plane and just get ready for our next game.
We can’t get too high. I want them to enjoy it for a few minutes here, but then we get back to work tomorrow and get ready for game five.”

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