One of the best time periods on the sports calendar is just around the corner as the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoff approaching. With the regular season winding down and the postseason set to begin Saturday, the first-round matchups are now taking shape on the schedule.

The Pacific Division was uncharacteristically weak this year, but the Vegas Golden Knights managed to secure their fifth division banner in nine seasons to clinch home-ice advantage and a first-round date with the top Wild Card team. The challenger happens to be the Utah Mammoth, who will deliver playoff hockey to Salt Lake City in just their second season there.

As opening odds go live for each playoff series on DraftKings Sportsbook, we get our first look at which side betting markets favor. The initial listing sees the Golden Knights enter as -190 favorites to win this series while the Mammoth come in as a +155 underdog.

Again, the Pacific was quite weak with Vegas’ 95 points enough to lock down the division title. However, they managed to do so despite dismissing former head coach Bruce Cassidy and hiring John Tortorella to replace him with just weeks remaining in the regular season. Now, the Golden Knights bring plenty of experience in the Stanley Cup Playoffs to the table with the added bonus of having Mitch Marner alongside Jack Eichel and Mark Stone, among others.

As for the Mammoth, the Central Division was an outright bloodbath with three 100-point teams at the top. Utah sits at 92 points with one game remaining on its regular-season schedule after proving doubters wrong throughout the campaign. Clayton Keller’s 86 points have allowed him to continue cementing star status with a pair of 70-point scorers in Nick Schmaltz and Dylan Guenther. Yes, the Mammoth aren’t as star-studded or playoff-proven as their opponents, but they’re feisty and have an energized fanbase behind them.

Anything can happen in the NHL and this should be a fun, competitive series. Vegas holds +900 odds to win the Stanley Cup, the fourth best of any team on DraftKings Sportsbook. Utah comes in at +3500, 10th on the leaderboard.