Vegas Takes the Pacific Crown, and Seattle's Season Is Slipping Away
The Vegas Golden Knights locked up the Pacific Division title Wednesday night with a 4-1 win over the Kraken at T-Mobile Arena, and Seattle had no answers. Mitch Marner broke a third-period tie, Reilly Smith added two late goals, and Shea Theodore also scored as Vegas closed out the regular season in style. Carter Hart made 22 saves. The Golden Knights finish 39-26-17 and have won this division for the fifth time in their nine-year history.
For the Kraken, it was another gut punch heading into the final day of the season. Shane Wright scored Seattle's only goal, but Nikke Kokko stopped 22 shots in a losing effort. The Kraken drop to 34-36-11 with one game left Thursday night at Colorado.
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The game was tied heading into the third, but Vegas took control fast. Marner gave the Golden Knights a 2-1 lead at 1:23 of the period after tipping in a long straightaway shot from defenseman Brayden McNabb for his 24th goal of the season. That was the moment the Kraken's night fell apart. Smith put two more in late to seal it, and any hope Seattle had of a late rally was gone.
Wright Returns, But It's Not Enough
Shane Wright made his return after missing the previous eight games with an upper-body injury, scoring just 2:24 into the second period to give Seattle an early lead. But that spark didn't last. Shea Theodore tied it with 2:25 left in the second when he fired a wrist shot past Kokko's glove from the top of the circle after getting the puck off a faceoff at the right point.
Vegas has found its stride since John Tortorella took over as coach, going 7-0-1. Golden Knights captain Mark Stone also reached a milestone Wednesday, playing his 400th game for the franchise.
One Game Left
The Kraken finish their season Thursday night in Colorado with a 34-36-11 record. Vegas heads into the first round of the playoffs against Utah after clinching the division two points ahead of Edmonton, who still have one game left to play.
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