The Las Vegas Golden Knights finally punch their ticket to the playoffs; the Aces nail a big-time television schedule and crazy draft rumors for the Las Vegas Raiders. All this and more last week in Las Vegas sports (April 8 – 14).
#5 The Las Vegas Golden Knights clinch a spot in the 2024 NHL playoffs
The Las Vegas Golden Knights have earned the right to defend their championship after clinching a playoff spot. Las Vegas accomplished this with a 7-2 victory against the Minnesota Wild last week. This also marks the Golden Knights’ second straight year back in the playoffs after missing it in 2022.
Pavel Dorofeyev, Jack Eichel, Nicholas Roy, Thomas Hurtl, William Karlsson, Keegan Colesar, and Jonathan Marchessault all knocked in goals. Meanwhile, Logan Thompson stopped 25 shots but allowed two goals past him. None of this mattered, however, due to the high-octane offense scoring three goals in the first period.
Las Vegas has a 43-28-8 record and 94 points. That record is good enough for the final spot in the Pacific division and a first-round matchup against the Dallas Stars. However, it is not a great start for Las Vegas in the playoffs, which could spell an early exit.
#4 Kyle Busch edges out Cory Heim at the line to win at Texas Motor Speedway
Kyle Busch scored NASCAR Truck series win number 66 on Friday after beating Cory Heim to the line in a wicked last-lap battle at Texas Motor Speedway. The victory is the Busch’s second of the year in the Craftsman Truck Series and shows just how dominant the Las Vegas native can still be.
“Corey [Heim] kept us honest right there,” Busch said regarding the last lap battle. “He started to find that top over there and got some momentum with three to go. I chattered badly, so my front just wasn’t working over there. … he made it and got to my rear bumper, getting into [turn] three, and I just didn’t know which way to go, so I ran the middle, then to the bottom, and then he slipped up top, and I guess we had enough of a gap after that.”
While Busch is tearing it up in the Craftsman Truck Series, he still hasn’t notched a win in the Cup Series this season. He is currently 15th with zero wins, one top-five, and two top-tens. He seems to have fallen off from his first season with Richard Childress racing, which is not good news for his title hopes.
#3 Las Vegas Aces set to have 35 nationally televised games in 2024
The Las Vegas Aces are on the cusp of making history, and everyone seems to want to take part in the action. It’s now being reported that 35 of their 40 games will be nationally broadcast on various platforms. This allows Sin City to show the world just how unstoppable they are in their march for three titles.
ESPN 2 will start with the season opener against the Phoenix Mercury on May 14. During the pregame ceremony, the team will be presented with its championship banner and rings. ESPN’s network will then air eight other games before the coverage is sent to NBA TV and ION television. Some games will be available on Amazon Prime.
Las Vegas has already sold out of season tickets for their home games and tickets for five upcoming matchups. One game against the Indiana Fever had to be relocated to the T-Mobile Arena to accommodate demand. Looks like the Aces are the team to watch in 2024 and that should have everyone in Las Vegas feeling proud!
Related: 5 crazy stats about the Las Vegas Aces
#2 Max Crosby talks about the uncertainty of the 2024 draft
Uncertainty can be both exciting and frightening. Las Vegas Raiders fans are likely experiencing those conflicting emotions right now as they await the results of the 2024 NFL draft, which is scheduled for April 25th in Detroit, Michigan. Rumors are running wild about what the Raiders will do during the seven-round event and who their first pick will be.
Max Crosby discussed rumors surrounding the 2024 NFL draft and offered a pretty honest perspective on the matter.
“Even the coaches right now and the GM. All of them. They don’t know until the draft day comes,” Crosby said on his podcast. “Unless you have the No. 1 pick, people could trade picks; there could be a certain guy taken that you don’t expect the pick before you, and you’re like, ‘Oh f—, now what are we going to do?’ They have a plan, they have their board and a breakdown of certain scenarios and situations, but you really don’t know until you know.”
#1 Tom Brady mentions possibly coming out of retirement to play for Las Vegas Raiders
Tom Brady stated during an interview on Deep Cuts with VicBlends that he is not opposed to coming out of retirement. The six-time Super Bowl champion even mentioned the Raiders as a team he would possibly play for. The news comes while Brady waits for a minority ownership stake to be voted on for Las Vegas.
“Patriots. Could be Raiders, could be, you never know. I’m not opposed to it,” Brady said during an interview last week. “I don’t know if they’re going to let me if I become an owner of an NFL team. I don’t know. I’m always going to be in good shape, always going to be able to throw the ball, so. To come in for a little bit, like (Michael Jordan) coming back? I don’t know if they’d let me, but I wouldn’t be opposed to it.”
As much as the Raiders would love a chance to have Brady, the move isn’t going to work. The first reason is that it would be a conflict of interest to his minority ownership. Another problem is that Las Vegas doesn’t have a defense that can complement Brady. In the end, this is likely a pipe dream.
More: The Raiders have two choices in the 2024 NFL Draft
Some believe the Raiders will draft a quarterback after meetings with Bo Nix, Michael Penix Jr., and Caleb Williams. The move would help Las Vegas develop another quarterback from the ground up, which could be crucial for their franchise. Others, however, believe there are too many other pieces for the Raiders to pass up.
According to Jordan Reid of ESPN, the Raiders are shifting focus to an offensive lineman or a cornerback with the 13th overall pick in the NFL draft. There is no specific reason for the supposed decision, but it somehow centers on Penix Jr. This has led the team toward other needs. It also means that it will likely be Gardner Minshew versus Aidan O’Connell for the starting job.
Next: 5 things you only see in Las Vegas sports!
