The Vegas Golden Knights won Game 1 against the Utah Mammoth after a strong performance in the third period. However, what has fans buzzing afterward is what Golden Knights forward Nic Dowd allegedly said to Mammoth forward Logan Cooley after the final whistle. Dowd is now under fire from fans following the incident ahead of Game 2.
Nic Dowd is not a known goal scorer, but in Game 1 of the first-round Stanley Cup playoff series against the Utah Mammoth, he scored the go-ahead 3–2 goal in what eventually became a 4–2 win.
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Game winning goal
Nic Dowd was traded from the Washington Capitals to the Vegas Golden Knights on March 5. In his 20 regular-season games with the team, he registered just one goal. However, on Sunday, he redirected a pass from Noah Hanifin into the net.
“I didn’t do a lot. Hanifin made a great play getting it to me in the middle. I just found a little bit of space. There’s limited space out there, and guys are playing their best hockey defensively because everything matters that much more. It was a bang-bang play, and I was lucky enough to find a little bit of net,” Dowd told reporters after the game.
But beyond scoring, Dowd was also involved in a heated exchange with Logan Cooley, the Mammoth’s young star forward.
Nic Dowd and Logan Cooley
At the faceoff following Vegas’ 4–2 goal, a scrum broke out and Nic Dowd was left bloodied. After the final whistle, Dowd was caught on camera shouting at Cooley.
Fans believe he said, “I’m coming for you, and I’m gonna f***ing kill you,” while pointing at Cooley, though the audio has not been independently verified. Dowd declined to comment on the situation after the game.
The clip quickly circulated online, with fans criticizing Dowd for the exchange.
“Imagine being a 35-year-old adult this pissed because a 21-year-old returned your right hook better than you,” one fan wrote on X.
“I hope he gets at least a fine for those abusive words,” another wrote.
“Why do the announcers think this is funny? I think Dowd should be referred to player safety!” a third user wrote.
Game 2 is scheduled for Tuesday.
You can watch the video below.
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