Vegas Golden Knights Clinch Pacific Division Title

Reilly Smith scores twice in third-period rally to defeat Seattle Kraken

Apr. 16, 2026 at 5:08am

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The Vegas Golden Knights rallied from a 1-0 deficit with three third-period goals, including two from Reilly Smith, to defeat the Seattle Kraken 4-1 and clinch the Pacific Division title on Wednesday night in Las Vegas. The win extends Vegas' point streak to 10 games and marks their third Pacific Division title in four years.

Why it matters

The Golden Knights' victory secures their spot in the Stanley Cup playoffs, where they will face the Utah Mammoth in the first round. This is a significant accomplishment for the franchise, which has established itself as a perennial contender in the NHL's Western Conference.

The details

Reilly Smith scored twice in the third period to lead the Golden Knights' comeback. Jack Eichel had two assists, and Shea Theodore and Mitch Marner also scored for Vegas. Carter Hart made 22 saves for the Golden Knights. Shane Wright scored the lone goal for the Kraken, who are now 2-7-1 in their last 10 games.

  • The game was played on Wednesday, April 16, 2026.
  • Vegas scored three goals in the third period to rally from a 1-0 deficit.

The players

Reilly Smith

A forward for the Vegas Golden Knights who scored two goals in the third period to lead his team's comeback.

Jack Eichel

A forward for the Vegas Golden Knights who had two assists in the game.

Shane Wright

A forward for the Seattle Kraken who scored the team's lone goal in the second period.

Carter Hart

The goaltender for the Vegas Golden Knights who made 22 saves in the win.

Nikke Kokko

The goaltender for the Seattle Kraken who made 22 saves in the loss.

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What they’re saying

“We knew we had to come out strong in the third period and take control of the game. Reilly Smith really stepped up and made some big plays for us.”

— Jack Eichel, Forward, Vegas Golden Knights

“It's always tough to lose, but I'm proud of the effort our team put forth tonight. We'll regroup and look to finish the season on a high note.”

— Shane Wright, Forward, Seattle Kraken

What’s next

The Golden Knights will face the Utah Mammoth in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. The Kraken will play their final game of the season on Thursday at Colorado.

The takeaway

The Golden Knights' comeback victory and Pacific Division title clinching performance showcases the team's resilience and ability to win close, high-stakes games. This result solidifies Vegas' status as a top contender in the Western Conference and sets them up for a deep playoff run.