LAS VEGAS (April 13, 2026) — The Las Vegas Desert Dogs (7–9) are set for a pivotal back-to-back showdown against the rival San Diego Seals (7–9) to close out the regular season.
Game one takes place in San Diego on Friday, April 17 at 7:30 PM PST, before both teams head to Las Vegas for game two on Saturday, April 18 at 7:00 PM PST.
This marks the first back-to-back set in franchise history for Las Vegas, adding even more intensity to a growing rivalry. San Diego currently holds a 4–2 edge in the all-time series.
For the Desert Dogs to reach the playoffs, they will need either a sweep of San Diego or a split combined with two Rochester Knighthawks wins over the Georgia Swarm.
WINGS FLY OVER DESERT DOGS
The Desert Dogs battled but fell 11–5 to the Philadelphia Wings, making their playoff push more difficult heading into the final weekend of the regular season. Philadelphia struck first, but Kyle Killen answered twice in the opening quarter to keep things even. The Wings used a late bounce to take a 3–2 lead into the break, then carried that momentum into the second, going on a run to build a 7–2 advantage. Chris Cloutier found the back of the net late in the half to stop the surge, but Las Vegas trailed 7–3 at halftime.
Out of the break, Adam Poitras sparked the offense with a pair of goals, cutting into the deficit and keeping the Desert Dogs within reach. However, Philadelphia continued to respond, extending its lead in the fourth and closing the game with two late goals to secure the win. Despite the loss, Poitras continued his strong season with another multi-goal performance.
With the loss, the Desert Dogs now turn their attention to a crucial back-to-back against San Diego, needing wins in both games to keep their playoff hopes alive.
TRYING TO “SEAL” PLAYOFFS
The San Diego Seals picked up one of their biggest wins of the season on Sunday, taking down the Georgia Swarm 9–7 and significantly boosting their playoff chances heading into the final week of the NLL regular season.
The Seals have followed a similar path to the Desert Dogs this year, setting up what will be the biggest rivalry weekend in franchise history.
Offensively, San Diego is led by Wesley Berg, who has totaled 67 points (24G, 43A), and Tre Leclaire with 61 points (27G, 34A). In net, Christopher Origlieri has carried the load, posting a solid 9.59 goals-against average and a .790 save percentage.
While the Seals have struggled offensively at times this season, they enter the weekend with momentum and a clear path to the playoffs, making this upcoming matchup one of the toughest tests of the year for the Desert Dogs.
MILESTONES
• Tyson Bell is 8 points away from 100 career NLL points
• Jonathan Donville is 6 goals for 100 NLL career goals and 5 assists away from 200 NLL career assists
• Chris Cloutier is 2 assists away from 200 NLL assists
• Kyle Killen is 9 points away from 300 career NLL points
• Adam Poitras is 1 point away from 100 career NLL points
Chris Cloutier played in 100 career NLL games against the Wings.
LVDD POINT LEADERS
• #16 Mitch Jones – 93 points (31G, 62A)
• #3 Jonathan Donville – 86 points (23G, 63A)
• #25 Chris Cloutier – 71 points (32G, 39A)
• #91 Adam Poitras – 52 points (29G, 23A)
• #67 Kyle Killen – 35 points (22G, 13A)
WHO TO WATCH
With a playoff spot within reach, the Desert Dogs could benefit from help elsewhere in the league. Key matchups to keep an eye on in the last week of the year, NLL Week 21:
• Apr 18 | 1:00 PM PT – Rochester Knighthawks at Georgia Swarm
Root for Rochester to win. If the Dogs lose one, we need Rochester to win out.
• Apr 19 | 12:00 PM PT – Georgia Swarm at Rochester Knighthawks
Root for Rochester to win. If the Dogs lose one, we need Rochester to win out.
WHERE TO WATCH (APRIL 17)
All fans can watch locally on SSSEN (5.4 / Cox 125) or stream on NLL+ and ESPN+.
Faceoff: 7:30 PM PT
WHAT’S HAPPENING AT THE GAME (APRIL 18)
Our final home game is Fan Appreciation Night, a night dedicated to YOU! The Pack isn’t possible without our fans, and we’re celebrating all game long with in-arena giveaways, games, and prizes. Expect a one-of-a-kind game day experience you won’t want to miss! Stick around after the game for a postgame autograph session on PENTA Field!
Big Dog’s Tiltyard Tailgate kicks off at 4:30 PM, featuring:
• $2 Big Dog’s Good Boy Lagers
• Outdoor & patio-style games
• Decker’s Kids Zone
Doors open at 6:00 PM, with Dogs Party Time kicking off at 6:30 PM. Every fan in attendance will receive a scratch-off lottery ticket, and every ticket is a winner!
Inside the arena, fans can enjoy $5 Good Boy Lagers and Twisted Tail Seltzers all night, along with Den Deals on fan-favorite foods like nachos, boxed popcorn, hot dogs, french fries, and pretzels, all for just $5.
Fans 21 and older can continue the celebration at the Official After Party at the Rio Hotel & Casino’s VooDoo Lounge from 10:00 PM to 2:00 AM.
🎟️ General tickets are available at lasvegasdesertdogs.com/tickets 🎟️
ABOUT LAS VEGAS DESERT DOGS
The Las Vegas Desert Dogs are a professional box lacrosse team and a member of the National Lacrosse League (NLL). Known for their dedication to excellence and their passionate fanbase, the Desert Dogs have become a symbol of local pride for the city of Las Vegas and one of the most entertaining nights out. The Desert Dogs play 18 games in the regular season, 9 home games + 9 away games. All home games are played at Lee’s Family Forum located in Henderson, NV, minutes away from the Las Vegas Strip. Games can be viewed locally on FOX 5, SSSEN, YouTube TV, ESPN+ and select games on ESPN2 and ESPNU. To stay updated on all things Las Vegas Desert Dogs, visit our official website lasvegasdesertdogs.com and follow us on social media @VegasDesertDogs on Facebook, Instagram, X and LinkedIn.
ABOUT NATIONAL LACROSSE LEAGUE
The National Lacrosse League (NLL) is North America’s largest professional lacrosse league and welcomed more than 1 million fans for the third consecutive year during the 2024-25 season. Founded in 1986, the NLL is comprised of 14 franchises across Canada and the United States, and recently unveiled its largest brand campaign ever, “Welcome to The Next Major League™” and introduced its comprehensive grassroots initiative, NLL UnBOXed™, that will expand the League’s footprint to 60 communities across North America by 2028. For the latest scores and developments in the National Lacrosse League, please visit: NLL.com and find the NLL on Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube and TikTok. Games are available live and streaming on TSN, TSN+, ESPN, and NLL+.
For all media inquiries please contact, Dana Mariotti, Vice President of Marketing & Communications, [email protected].
To request media credentials to the Las Vegas Desert Dogs last home game, please click HERE.
