LAS VEGAS (Jan. 26, 2026) – The Las Vegas Desert Dogs (3–3) wrap up their three-game homestand in Week 10 of the NLL by hosting the 12th-place Oshawa FireWolves (2-6) on PENTA Field inside Lee’s Family Forum on Saturday, Jan. 31 at 7 p.m. PST.
The matchup marks the first meeting between the two clubs since the FireWolves relocated to Oshawa. The teams last faced off a season ago when the franchise was still based in Albany, a contest that required overtime to decide. Adam Poitras scored the game-winning goal in the extra frame, securing Las Vegas its first victory of the 2025 season.
DESERT DOGS GROUND WINGS IN WIN
The Desert Dogs earned a 10–7 win over the Philadelphia Wings (1–5) on Saturday night, securing their first victory over the Wings in franchise history. Goaltender Landon Kells anchored the effort with 36 saves on 43 shots for an 83% save percentage, while Rhys Blake made his first start in the black and white and finished with five loose balls.
After an early Philadelphia goal, the Desert Dogs responded with a four-goal first quarter highlighted by tallies from Connor Kirst, Chase Fraser, John LaFontaine, and Chris Cloutier. Las Vegas carried a 5–3 halftime lead and matched each Wings push in the second half, with Kirst and Adam Poitras leading the offensive charge. Poitras completed a hat trick in the fourth quarter, and Jackson Webster added an insurance goal as the Desert Dogs closed out a statement 10–7 victory.
THE FIREWOLVES ARE ICE COLD
The Oshawa FireWolves opened the season with a win but have since struggled to find consistency, only winning one of their last seven games. Offensive production has been an issue at times, as Oshawa has been held to fewer than 10 goals in four games this season. That said, the FireWolves have begun to show signs of life offensively, led by Alex Simmons 49 points (22G, 27A) and Tye Kurtz 36 points (18G, 18A).
Discipline has also been a challenge for Oshawa, as the FireWolves rank second in the NLL in penalty minutes with 115 minutes spent in the box as a team. One notable storyline entering the matchup is the presence of Dyson Williams, son of Desert Dogs head coach and general manager Shawn Williams. Now in his second NLL season, Williams ranks fourth on the FireWolves in scoring with 18 points.
Despite their record, the FireWolves have remained competitive thanks to strong goaltending from Doug Jamieson, who ranks seventh among NLL starters. Jamieson carries a .798 save percentage and is allowing around nine goals per game, keeping Oshawa within striking distance most nights.
This will be a battle for four quarters between two teams who need a win. The top dog in this one will be the team that can keep pace, stay disciplined, and sustain effort for the full 60 minutes.
MILESTONES
Connor Kirst needs 15 loose ball recoveries to reach 500 career NLL loose balls recovered.
Landon Kells is 42 minutes away from 3,000 career NLL goalie minutes.
Sheldon Burns is 9 points away from 100 career NLL points.
Chris Cloutier is 11 goals away from 150 career NLL goals.
Kyle Killen is 9 goals away from 150 career NLL goals.
Mitch Jones is 9 goals away from 300 career NLL goals.
LVDD POINT LEADERS
#16 Mitch Jones – 36 points (14G, 22A)
#3 Jonathan Donville – 31 points (6G, 25A)
#25 Chris Cloutier – 26 points (11G, 15A)
#8 Chase Fraser – 22 points (10G, 12A)
#91 Adam Poitras – 14 points (10G, 4A)
WHAT’S HAPPENING AT THE GAME
This game will be our fourth annual Wayne Gretzky Night, officially titled “Wayne’s Tailgate,” presented by Lucia Capital Group, at Lee’s Family Forum on PENTA Field. The first 4,000 fans through the doors will receive an exclusive Gretzky 99 “City Edition” jersey, blending the spirit of Las Vegas with the Desert Dogs’ iconic brand and marking the fourth release in the Desert Dogs’ Gretzky Jersey Collection.
Fans are encouraged to arrive early, as jerseys go fast and the party starts even sooner. Big Dog’s Tiltyard Tailgate, renamed Wayne’s Tailgate for the night, begins at 4:30 p.m. PST and will feature $2 Big Dog’s Good Boy Lagers and Twisted Tail Seltzers, Decker’s Kids Zone, outdoor games, food trucks, and live DJ entertainment before heading inside the Den.
Once inside the arena, the value continues with $5 Good Boy Lagers and Twisted Tail Seltzers all night long, along with Den Deals on fan-favorite food items including nachos, boxed popcorn, hot dogs, french fries, and pretzels — all for just $5. Doors open at 6 p.m. PST.
Fans 21 and older can continue the night at the Official After Party at the Rio Hotel & Casino’s VooDoo Lounge from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m.
🎟️ General tickets can be purchased 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 Home Opener, please click [HERE] (https://share.hsforms.com/1xZjaLgzpT4S8qQQAGGvjBQc19mw).
