LAS VEGAS (March 23, 2026) — The Las Vegas Desert Dogs (6–7) return home riding a two-game winning streak, sitting eighth in the standings and pushing hard for a playoff spot with only five games remaining.
Their next contest will be a crucial step in that push as they take on the Calgary Roughnecks (4–10) on Saturday, March 28 at 7:30 PM PST inside Lee’s Family Forum on PENTA Field. Last season, Las Vegas faced Calgary twice and came up short both times, but nothing is more important than the game in front of them.
This matchup could be a statement game as the Desert Dogs continue to improve each night and make history in real time. With the team gaining momentum and every game counting in the playoff race, this is one fans won’t want to miss.
LAS VEGAS DOUBLES DOWN IN ROCHESTER
The Desert Dogs made history with a 17-13 double-weekend victory over the Rochester Knighthawks (5–8), setting a franchise record with 10 first-half goals and tying their single-game scoring mark with 17.
Las Vegas jumped out to a 6–0 start with goals from Chris Cloutier, Drew Belgrave, and Jonathan Donville, before Mitch Jones added a delayed penalty goal to keep the momentum. Rochester briefly closed the gap in the second half, but a late five-goal surge in the fourth quarter propelled the Desert Dogs to the win.
The victory gave Las Vegas six wins, the most in a single season in franchise history.
Key performers:
• Adam Poitras – five goals, including a clutch fourth-quarter equalizer
• Mitch Jones – hat trick plus an empty-net goal
• Jonathan Donville – eight points (1G, 7A)
• Mitch Jones – nine points (4G, 5A)
• Adam Poitras – eight points (5G, 3A)
• Kyle Killen – extended his goal streak to seven games
ROUGHRIDE FOR THE ROUGHNECKS
A playoff team last year, Calgary has struggled this season, sitting at 4–10 and 12th in the league with a minus-24 goal differential. Despite the tough year, they have shown some life recently, going 2–1 in their last three games with wins over Rochester and Ottawa, while dropping a close game to Colorado by just two goals.
Forwards Tyler Pace (24G, 51A) and Tanner Cook (37G, 37A) lead the Roughnecks offensively with 75 and 74 points respectively. Calgary also ranks fourth in the NLL in penalty minutes with 188, totaling six majors, 64 minors, and one 10-minute misconduct. Their special teams have struggled, with both the power play and penalty kill ranked outside the top 10 in the league.
Even with their record, this team is playing better lacrosse at the right time and is not fully out of playoff contention. That means they will come in playing fast, physical, and desperate. If the Desert Dogs play sloppy or down to their level, this could turn into a tough matchup, but it should make for an exciting game.
LVDD POINT LEADERS
#16 Mitch Jones – 81 points (30G, 51A)
#3 Jonathan Donville – 77 points (19G, 58A)
#25 Chris Cloutier – 62 points (28G, 34A)
#91 Adam Poitras – 42 points (14G, 18A)
#67 Kyle Killen – 30 points (19G, 11A)
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:
Week 18:
• 3/27 @ 4 PM PST – Halifax Thunderbirds at Philadelphia Wings: A Philadelphia win is preferred, as Halifax holds the head-to-head advantage.
**• 3/28 @ 4 PM PST – ** Georgia Swarm at Ottawa Black Bears: A Georgia win could help Las Vegas pass Ottawa in the standings, as the Dogs hold the head-to-head tiebreaker.
• 3/28 @ 4 PM PST – Rochester Knighthawks at Oshawa FireWolves: An Oshawa win would help separate Las Vegas from Rochester in the standings.
WHAT’S HAPPENING AT THE GAME
The penultimate home game will celebrate Heroes Night Presented by Sunshine Minting Institute, honoring local law enforcement, active-duty military, veterans, and first responders.
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
• Touch-A-Truck event with local law enforcement
• Elite-8 NCAA Basketball on the big screen
Doors open at 6:00 PM, with Dogs Party Time starting at 6:30 PM. Fans in attendance will also receive Las Vegas Desert Dogs-themed dog tags to commemorate the night.
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.
The night will feature Year 4 of the first responders half-time dodgeball game, giving fans a fun, action-packed experience during intermission.
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 🎟️
MILESTONES
Sheldon Burns is 9 points away from 100 career NLL points.
Tony Malcolm is 3 goals away from 100 career NLL goals AND 3 assists away from 150 career NLL assists.
Tyson Bell is 9 points away from 100 career NLL points AND 1 game played away from appearing in 150 NLL games.
Alex Buque is 2 games played away from appearing in 150 NLL games.
Kevin Crowley hit 400 career NLL goals in Rochester.
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 Home Opener, please click HERE.
