Golden Knights clinch Pacific Division, face Mammoth in 1st round

Vegas clinches 5th division title in 9 seasons with win over Kraken

Apr. 16, 2026 at 5:43am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting the abstract shapes and movements of a hockey game, with the players and puck represented as angular, overlapping forms in the team colors of the Vegas Golden Knights and Utah Mammoth.The Golden Knights' playoff matchup with the Mammoth promises an intense, hard-fought series between two of the Western Conference's top teams.Seattle Today

The Vegas Golden Knights clinched their fifth Pacific Division title in nine seasons with a 4-1 win over the Seattle Kraken in their regular season finale on Wednesday. The Knights are the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference and will take on the Utah Mammoth in the first round of the playoffs.

Why it matters

The Golden Knights have been one of the most successful expansion franchises in NHL history, making the playoffs in 8 of their 9 seasons and winning their division 5 times. Their matchup with the Mammoth in the first round will be a highly anticipated series between two of the top teams in the Western Conference.

The details

The Knights secured the Pacific Division title with their win over the Kraken on Wednesday. They finished the regular season with a 51-23-8 record, good for 110 points and the No. 2 seed in the West. The Mammoth, who finished third in the Central Division, will be a tough first-round opponent for Vegas.

  • The Golden Knights clinched the Pacific Division title on April 16, 2026.
  • The Knights will face the Mammoth in the first round of the playoffs starting in late April 2026.

The players

Vegas Golden Knights

An NHL expansion franchise that began play in the 2017-18 season. They have been one of the most successful new teams in league history, making the playoffs in 8 of their 9 seasons and winning 5 division titles.

Utah Mammoth

An NHL team that plays in the Central Division. They finished the 2025-26 regular season with a 47-27-8 record, good for third place in their division and a first-round playoff matchup with the Golden Knights.

Seattle Kraken

An NHL expansion franchise that began play in the 2021-22 season. They are division rivals of the Golden Knights in the Pacific Division.

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What they’re saying

“Winning the division is always the first goal, and we're proud to have accomplished that again this season. But our work isn't done - we're focused on making a deep playoff run now.”

— Mark Stone, Captain, Vegas Golden Knights

What’s next

The Golden Knights and Mammoth will begin their first-round playoff series in late April 2026. The winner will advance to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The takeaway

The Golden Knights have established themselves as one of the NHL's premier franchises, winning their division 5 times in 9 seasons. Their matchup with the Mammoth in the first round will be a clash between two of the West's top teams, setting the stage for an exciting playoff series.