Golden Knights Clinch Pacific Division Title

Mitch Marner's late goal seals victory over Kraken

Apr. 16, 2026 at 6:53am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a hockey game in progress, with the players and the ice surface broken down into sharp, overlapping planes of color representing the official team colors of the Vegas Golden Knights and Seattle Kraken.The Golden Knights' division-clinching victory over the Kraken showcases the team's ability to rise to the occasion and cement their status as one of the NHL's premier franchises.Seattle Today

The Vegas Golden Knights clinched the Pacific Division title for the fifth time in their nine-year history, defeating the Seattle Kraken 4-1 on Wednesday night. Mitch Marner scored the go-ahead goal in the third period to lead the Golden Knights to the division crown.

Why it matters

The Golden Knights' division title is a significant accomplishment, cementing their status as one of the NHL's elite franchises since their inception in 2017. The win also denies the Kraken a chance to claim their first-ever division championship in just their third season.

The details

Mitch Marner broke a 1-1 tie in the third period to give the Golden Knights the lead, and they added two more goals to secure the victory. The win caps off a strong regular season for Vegas, who have now won the Pacific Division five times in their short history.

  • The game was played on Wednesday, April 16, 2026.

The players

Mitch Marner

A forward for the Vegas Golden Knights who scored the go-ahead goal in the third period to clinch the division title.

Vegas Golden Knights

An NHL franchise that has won the Pacific Division title five times in their nine-year history, cementing their status as one of the league's top teams.

Seattle Kraken

The NHL's newest franchise, playing in just their third season, who were denied their first-ever division championship with the loss to the Golden Knights.

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What’s next

The Golden Knights will now prepare for the Stanley Cup Playoffs as the Pacific Division champions.

The takeaway

The Golden Knights' division title is a testament to the team's consistent excellence and ability to maintain a high level of play year after year, solidifying their place among the NHL's elite franchises.