Vegas Gearing Up for Third Stanley Cup Run from Golden Knights

^{The Vegas Golden Knights chose not to touch the Campbell Bowl after winning the NHL Western Conference Final, mirroring their 2023 decision to hoist the Stanley Cup. (Photo courtesy of @golfodds on X.com)}

LAS VEGAS – The Vegas Golden Knights slayed the NHL’s best regular-season team on Tuesday night at T-Mobile Arena, eliminating the Colorado Avalanche as big underdogs to pull off a stunning four-game sweep and close out the Western Conference Final. Now the Golden Knights are back in the Stanley Cup Final for the third time in the first nine years of their existence, and Las Vegas casinos are getting ready to profit again from a strong influx of visiting NHL fans.

Despite being a shocking participant in the Stanley Cup Final and the most hated team in America according to RotoWire, Vegas aims to uphold its status as the fourth-best NHL city according to WalletHub. Tickets have yet to go on sale, and the team’s next opponent and upcoming schedule are still to be determined. But that has not stopped Sin City from starting preparations for the NHL's championship event and the droves of fans that come with it.

Will Another Improbable Run Lead to a Second Stanley Cup?

Similar to the team’s inaugural season, few thought the Golden Knights had a serious shot to get to the Stanley Cup Final this year. They actually lost more games than they won during the regular season (including overtime), finishing 26 points behind the Avalanche’s league-leading total of 121. Four players remain from the first team that went to the Stanley Cup Final in 2018, and 11 are back from the squad that won it all three years ago.

The turning point this season came when management decided to fire Cup-winning head coach Bruce Cassidy with eight games left in the regular season. Vegas underachieved in March and was in danger of missing the playoffs altogether until GM Kelly McCrimmon pulled the plug on Cassidy, who led the team to its first Cup in 2023. McCrimmon replaced Cassidy with fellow Cup-winning coach John Tortorella, and the rest is history. Tortorella has led the Golden Knights to a 19-4-1 mark in 24 games so far.

Vegas has somehow found a way to beat the odds and return to the Stanley Cup Final thanks to a new coach and revitalized roster, with the sweep of Colorado leading to a nice payout of +2500 (25/1 or bet $100 to win $2,500). First-year misfits Mitch Marner and Carter Hart have also joined the mix, along with Tortorella, and proven themselves to be worthy of consideration for the Conn Smythe Trophy, awarded to the postseason’s top performer.

Oddsmakers are giving the team a solid chance to win another Cup when the next round gets underway. However, Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook VP of Risk Jeff Sherman has already posted that the Carolina Hurricanes have opened as slight favorites in a potential matchup, assuming they oust the Montreal Canadiens as expected. Either foe would have home-ice advantage, though, because they both finished with more points than the Knights.

Casinos Expected to Score During 2026 Stanley Cup Final

Watch parties, food and drink specials, and exclusive merchandise are part of the sports-viewing experience at casinos. With the Stanley Cup Final comes the best of the best in what they can offer home and visiting fans alike, in hopes of driving more business.

Directly outside T-Mobile Arena are the New York-New York Hotel & Casino and Park MGM,. The latter is the only smoke-free resort on the Strip. 

Those two casinos are family-friendly and have plenty of restaurants and bars to choose from before or after the hockey game. Others around town, like Circa Resort & Casino downtown, are known to host watch parties at Stadium Swim. Near the arena, Beerhaus is a fun spot to view home and road games.

Inside T-Mobile Arena, the Golden Knights introduced a Locals Menu for all home games this year. They listened to the fans who had complained about high prices and discounted some popular items. Among the discounted food options are hot dogs, pretzels, nachos, and popcorn for $5.50 each, while bottled water and fountain soda are the same price too.

On Thursday, the team is planning an Open House event for prospective season ticket holders to pick their seats for next season. The event will take place between 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. at T-Mobile Arena, and season ticket holders will be given priority access to Stanley Cup Final tickets this year.

Regardless of where fans opt to watch the Stanley Cup games, Vegas is definitely banking on a boom in business over the next few weeks. Stay tuned to Casinos.com for more coverage of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final as more events and promotions are announced.