Golden Knights playoff odds rise after Pacific title
The Vegas Golden Knights strengthened their Golden Knights playoff odds outlook by clinching the Pacific Division with a 4-1 win over the Seattle Kraken on Wednesday night, closing the regular season in style and setting up a first-round meeting with Utah. In the NHL, Vegas needed only a point to secure the division crown, and it got the full two with a convincing finish at home.
Vegas closes the regular season on a high note
Mitch Marner broke a third-period tie and helped the Golden Knights lock up the Pacific Division title for the fifth time in the franchise’s nine-year history. Reilly Smith added two late goals, Shea Theodore scored as well, and Carter Hart made 22 saves as Vegas won its third straight game.
The victory gave Vegas a final record of 39-26-17. Since John Tortorella replaced the fired Bruce Cassidy behind the bench, the Golden Knights have gone 7-0-1, a run that has clearly improved the team’s momentum heading into the postseason. For anyone tracking Golden Knights playoff odds, the late surge and division title make Vegas one of the more stable teams entering the bracket.
How the game unfolded
Seattle struck first when Shane Wright scored at 2:24 of the second period, returning from an upper-body injury that had kept him out for the previous eight games. Vegas answered late in the period when Theodore tied the game with 2:25 remaining, stepping into a wrist shot from the top of the circle after taking the puck at the right point off a faceoff.
The decisive goal came just 1:23 into the third. Off a draw, defenseman Brayden McNabb fired a straightaway shot that Marner tipped past Nikke Kokko for his 24th goal of the season and a 2-1 Vegas lead. Smith then sealed it with two late goals to turn a tight game into a comfortable finish.
Kokko stopped 22 shots for Seattle, which has now lost two straight and fell to 34-36-11 with one game left Thursday night at Colorado.
What the division title means next
Vegas will host Utah in the first round of the playoffs, and the Pacific Division crown ensures the Golden Knights enter that series with home-ice momentum and a strong recent form line. The combination of the 7-0-1 coaching change surge, a 39-win regular season, and a division title helps explain why Golden Knights playoff odds have remained a major talking point among fans heading into the postseason.
For Seattle, the loss ends the regular season on a sour note, but Wright’s return and goal provided one positive as the Kraken prepare for their final game in Colorado. For Vegas, the focus now shifts fully to Utah and the opening round, where the Golden Knights will try to turn their late-season run into a deep playoff push.
Key takeaways
- Vegas beat Seattle 4-1 to clinch the Pacific Division for the fifth time in nine seasons.
- Mitch Marner scored the go-ahead goal early in the third period.
- Reilly Smith scored twice late, while Shea Theodore and Carter Hart also played major roles.
- The Golden Knights finished 39-26-17 and went 7-0-1 after John Tortorella took over as coach.
- Vegas opens the playoffs against Utah with momentum and a division title in hand.
