Desert Dogs Are Back and Chasing Their First NLL Playoff Berth

_{The Las Vegas Desert Dogs have made some improvements this offseason in hopes of making the playoffs for the first time. (Photo courtesy of @Vegas_Matty on X.com)}

HENDERSON, Nevada – The Las Vegas Desert Dogs are back, and after the best season in franchise history, they have for the first time a legitimate shot at the NLL playoffs.

Las Vegas won a team-record eight games last season and narrowly missed the postseason. Now the Desert Dogs return with nine home dates, some significant defensive additions and expectations that their fourth season could be their best yet.

Casinos.com is along for the ride again, returning as the team's proud sponsor and excited to support them as they try to make the playoffs for the first time ever. The 2026-27 campaign should be the best yet for the Desert Dogs, who just missed out on the postseason a year ago despite posting a team-record eight wins.

Las Vegas will kick off the regular season against the Colorado Mammoth at Lee’s Family Forum on Saturday, Dec. 5. The Desert Dogs will return to suburban Henderson for a matchup with the Rochester Knighthawks nearly two weeks later on Friday, Dec. 18. Those are the team’s only two games in 2026 before the calendar year moves to 2027, with four more taking place in January.

From there, three games are scheduled for February (two at home and one away) before the busiest month of the season in March – especially considering travel – with five overall, including four on the road. Las Vegas wraps up the season with two games at home and two on the road in April.

“Our organization is beyond excited for the opportunity in front of us this season,” said Las Vegas Desert Dogs General Manager Cody Moll in a press release. “The impact that our fans have on our team is massive and we can't wait to see everyone at Lee's Family Forum all season long."

Best Season Yet?

For Las Vegas fans, that means nine chances to see the Dogs in Henderson, beginning Dec. 5 against Colorado and ending April 24 against Saskatchewan. The full home and road schedules are below (all times PST) ...

Desert Dogs Schedule 2026-27

Home

• Saturday, Dec. 5, 2026 vs. Colorado Mammoth at 7 p.m.
• Friday, Dec. 18, 2026 vs. Rochester Knighthawks at 7:30 p.m.
• Saturday, Jan. 9, 2027 vs. Oshawa Firewolves at 7 p.m.
• Saturday, Jan. 30, 2027 vs. Buffalo Bandits at 7 p.m.
• Friday, Feb. 12, 2027 vs. Georgia Swarm at 7:30 p.m.
• Saturday, Feb. 20, 2027 vs. Vancouver Warriors at 8 p.m.
• Thursday, March 18, 2027 vs. Calgary Roughnecks at 7 p.m.
• Friday, April 2, 2027 vs. San Diego Seals at 7:30 p.m.
• Saturday, April 24 vs. Saskatchewan Rush at 7 p.m.

Road

• Friday, Jan. 22, 2027 at Toronto Rock at 4:30 p.m.
• Saturday, Jan. 23, 2027 at Oshawa Firewolves at 4 p.m.
• Saturday, Feb. 6, 2027 at Saskatchewan Rush at 5 p.m.
• Friday, March 5, 2027 at Vancouver Warriors at 7 p.m.
• Saturday, March 13, 2027 at Calgary Roughnecks at 6 p.m.
• Saturday, March 20, 2027 at Colorado Mammoth at 6 p.m.
• Saturday, March 27, 2027 at Rochester Knighthawks at 4 p.m.
• Saturday, April 10, 2027 at San Diego Seals at 7 p.m.
• Saturday, April 17, 2027 at Halifax Thunderbirds at 3 p.m.

Promotional Schedule Still TBD

While Las Vegas fans can start making plans based on the set dates of the team’s nine home games, the promotional schedule will be released soon and should give locals in particular even more reasons to come out to Henderson. Brendan White, the Vice President of Ticketing, said there is a lot to look forward to for fans of the Desert Dogs, with each game offering a unique experience.

“Call me biased, but all nine of our home games are can't-miss events,” White said. “We pride ourselves on being a marquee entertainment event specifically tailored to Las Vegas locals. Regardless of what happens on the floor, we judge ourselves as a business on the experience that we provide to everyone who comes out to Lee's Family Forum.”

However, there is a scheduling challenge for season ticket holders of both the Desert Dogs and the NHL’s Vegas Golden Knights, who also play on five of the nine home dates for the lacrosse team. That said, White does not think the potential conflict will hurt his team’s attendance numbers.  

“We are treating [these] games as opportunities to stand out in the Las Vegas sports landscape," White explained. "Given the fact that we only have nine home games and are an extremely family-friendly priced event, we are confident that our attendance won't be heavily impacted by what's happening at The Fortress.”

Draft Picks Should Improve Roster Defensively

One way to get even more fans to Henderson to watch lacrosse this season is to put a better product on the field. And last season, scoring wasn't the problem, but stopping the other guys was. Even though the team led the NLL in goals with 219 last season, it surrendered the second-most with 229. The year before, the Desert Dogs gave up a league-worst 256 goals.

Thus during the recent dispersal and entry drafts, and the Desert Dogs focused on defense in both. 

The hope obviously is that some of those close games the team lost last season will end up in the win column this year based on improved defensive play. With the second overall pick in the dispersal draft on Sept. 15, Las Vegas chose goalie Nick Damude and followed with defense Mitchell Armstrong and Sam LeClair on two of the team’s next three selections. 

Las Vegas bolstered the back end even more in the entry draft last Thursday, going with defense again on the first two picks, led by Michael White, who was selected fourth overall and coached by Las Vegas head coach Shawn Williams in the junior ranks. The Desert Dogs are banking on the 6-foot-3, 210-pounder from Queens University of Charlotte to be the top defender in the draft and anchor the unit for years to come. They added Penn State’s Owen Tasse with the 11th overall pick.

“Based on the upward trajectory the team has been on, coupled with some key acquisitions this offseason, we are extremely confident that we will be a very competitive team in the NLL this season,” White said. “Playoffs are the goal, and making a run in the playoffs is certainly on our mind. We were the highest-scoring team in the NLL last season and have solidified the goaltending position and defense heading into this year. Our expectations are always high, but this year feels like a true opportunity to meet and exceed those expectations.”

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