VEGAS SPORTS REPORT: Knights Open Season With Statement Win, Aces Face Decisive Game 3

The Vegas Golden Knights began their 2026-27 season on a winning note last night, defeating the Chicago Blackhawks 5-2 at T-Mobile Arena and giving Ryan Craig a win in his first regular-season game as Vegas head coach.

Going into the season, one question for the Golden Knights was how they would make up for the loss of Pavel Dorofeyev, Vegas’ leading goal scorer last season, whom they traded to the New York Rangers for draft picks.

The organization signed free agent Victor Olofsson to help compensate for the loss in offense, but it also wanted more from internal resources, led by Jack Eichel, to help fill the void.

Connelly Impresses in Knights’ Debut

That was the storyline last night. Five different players scored for Vegas. Shea Theodore, Brayden McNabb, and Ivan Barbashev each had two assists.

Olofsson scored Vegas’ first goal of the season, and Eichel finished with one goal and two assists.

Another big storyline last night was 20-year-old Trevor Connelly, Vegas’ top prospect, who made his debut at left wing and notched his first NHL goal at 15:22 of the first period.

Carter Hart stopped 24 of 26 shots in goal for Vegas. 

The Golden Knights play their next game Friday (Oct. 2) at home against the Anaheim Ducks.

Aces Face Elimination Game

The Las Vegas Aces missed an opportunity in Game 2 of their first-round Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) playoff series against the Fever last night in Indianapolis, falling 99-89.

The loss evened their best-of-three series at 1-1, sending it back to Las Vegas for a winner-take-all Game 3 Thursday night (Oct. 1) at Michelob ULTRA Arena, 9 p.m. EST. 

The Fever, led by Caitlin Clark with 27 points, 15 assists, and seven rebounds, bounced back after a handily beaten Game 1 on Sunday (Sept. 27), 102-85.

Young Leads the Charge for Aces

Indiana went on a 20-6 second-quarter run to take a 48-43 lead into halftime, then outscored Vegas 24-17 in the third quarter.

Jackie Young led the way for the Aces, with 31 points and five assists, while A’ja Wilson finished with 22 points and nine rebounds.

Bottom line: the Aces’ defense couldn’t contain Clark, Kelsey Mitchell (26 points), or Aliyah Boston (22 points), and they’ll need to do a better job Thursday night (Oct. 1) in Game 3.

Raiders Face Biggest Test

The Las Vegas Raiders, a surprising 3-0 so far, host the Kansas City Chiefs Sunday at Allegiant Stadium. Game time is 4:25 p.m. EST.

For the Raiders, it’s the biggest test of the season. Quarterback Kirk Cousins has thrown a league-leading nine touchdown passes in three games, while tight end Brock Bowers returned last week in the 35-27 win over the New Orleans Saints, finishing with 10 receptions for 116 yards and one touchdown.

Will Las Vegas’ hot start be sustainable against its first real heavyweight component, since the Chiefs look every bit the contender again, with quarterback Patrick Mahomes throwing seven touchdown passes in three games?

Bowers’ Strong Start

Super Bowl Most Valuable Player (MVP) Kenneth Walker III is off to a strong start for the Chiefs, averaging 5.5 yards per carry and totalling 360 yards.

Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty, meanwhile, has 206 yards through three games but has been slowed by an ankle injury.

Bowers, though, a two-time Pro Bowler, was the big story for the Raiders last weekend, returning from knee surgery earlier in September.

“Mentally, he was on it,” said Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak, talking about Bowers’ debut. “Not having all the practice reps all week, he was still dialled in. In the NFL, you are never 100 percent. All our guys are sore. All our guys are tired. Brock gutted it out.”

The Raiders’ defence has nine turnovers so far this season.

“Coach [Jim] Leonard has done an outstanding job of instilling a culture of taking the ball away,” he said.