Surging Knights visit scuffling Kraken as they battle for playoff position

Vegas looks to extend win streak against struggling Seattle squad

Apr. 9, 2026 at 2:07am

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A fractured, multi-perspective painting in vibrant colors depicting the dynamic action of a hockey game, with the players and the ice surface broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes and planes.The intense battle for playoff positioning between the Golden Knights and Kraken is captured in a cubist, geometric interpretation of the action on the ice.Seattle Today

The Vegas Golden Knights, winners of four straight games, visit the Seattle Kraken on Thursday night as both teams battle for playoff positioning in the Western Conference. The Golden Knights are tied for first in the Pacific Division, while the Kraken are clinging to their playoff hopes despite a recent six-game losing streak.

Why it matters

This matchup between two Pacific Division rivals has significant playoff implications, as the Golden Knights look to solidify their hold on a top spot while the Kraken try to claw their way back into the postseason race.

The details

The Golden Knights (36-26-16, 88 points) have surged under new coach John Tortorella, winning four straight games. They are even with Edmonton in points atop the Pacific Division but have three fewer regulation wins. The Kraken (32-34-11, 75 points) have lost six consecutive games, including their last five by multiple goals, and are in seventh place in the Western Conference wild-card race. The Kraken have won both meetings with the Golden Knights this season.

  • The Golden Knights and Kraken will meet on Thursday, April 9, 2026.
  • The teams are scheduled to face off again on April 15, 2026 in Las Vegas.

The players

John Tortorella

The new head coach of the Vegas Golden Knights, who replaced Bruce Cassidy earlier this season.

Cole Smith

A fourth-line forward for the Vegas Golden Knights who scored the game-winning goal in their recent 2-1 victory over the Vancouver Canucks.

Brayden McNabb

A defenseman for the Vegas Golden Knights who scored a goal in their 2-1 win over the Canucks.

Carter Hart

The goaltender for the Vegas Golden Knights who made 10 saves in their 2-1 victory over the Canucks.

Lane Lambert

The head coach of the Seattle Kraken, who expressed frustration with his team's recent losses despite believing they played well.

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What they’re saying

“Good teams win those games. Teams that don't get there in the end lose those games. To me, it's a good sign for the hockey club.”

— John Tortorella, Head Coach, Vegas Golden Knights

“We're doing a really good job of going north, and I think when you do that, you stay out of your end, you don't play defense, you don't mess around with the neutral zone, and then you end up playing more offense. And then, in my opinion, our (defensemen) are doing a great job of allowing our forwards to play offense by pinching, keeping pucks in, making us go north. I think it starts in our back end.”

— Nic Dowd, Center, Vegas Golden Knights

“It's another loss, and it's a 5-2 loss and another empty-net goal against, and I sit here and I say, 'I thought we played a pretty good hockey game.' And it's like, 'Really? You do?' It's another loss, but I do actually think we played pretty good (Tuesday). We out-chanced them and we just can't get out of our own way.”

— Lane Lambert, Head Coach, Seattle Kraken

“Same stuff. Turnover at the blue line, odd-man rush goal. A guy backdoor by himself, goal. Spin around in the slot to a guy backdoor by himself, goal. Empty net. I guess you could say another easy one for the opposing team. Mental mistakes that obviously have been hurting us for the last little bit.”

— Brandon Montour, Defenseman, Seattle Kraken

What’s next

The Golden Knights and Kraken will meet again on April 15, 2026 in Las Vegas, in a game that could have major playoff implications for both teams.

The takeaway

This matchup between the surging Golden Knights and the struggling Kraken highlights the tight playoff race in the Western Conference, with both teams fighting to secure a postseason berth. The outcome of this game and their upcoming rematch could play a pivotal role in determining which team ultimately makes the playoffs.