Reilly Smith scored twice during Vegas’ three-goal third period and also had an assist as the Golden Knights rallied for a 4-1 victory over the Seattle Kraken to clinch the Pacific Division title on Wednesday in Las Vegas.
It was the 31st multi-goal game of Smith’s career and his second of the season. Jack Eichel had two assists and Shea Theodore and Mitch Marner added goals for Vegas (39-26-17, 95 points), which will face the Utah Mammoth in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Carter Hart finished with 22 saves for the Golden Knights, who extended their point streak to a season-high 10 games (7-0-3). It is the third Pacific Division title in four years and sixth in nine seasons for Vegas, which improved to 7-0-1 since John Tortorella replaced Bruce Cassidy as head coach.
Shane Wright scored a goal for Seattle (34-36-11, 79 points), which is 2-7-1 over its past 10 games. Nikke Kokko made 22 saves for the Kraken, who play their final game of the season on Thursday at Colorado.
Seattle took a 1-0 lead at the 2:24 mark of the second period on Wright’s first goal in 17 games. Wright’s quick wrist shot from in front of the net beat Hart on the glove side off a rebound of Jani Nyman’s sharp-angled shot from the left goal line.
Vegas tied it late in the second period. Nic Dowd drew back a faceoff in the right circle to Theodore, who snapped a wrist shot into the top right corner of the net.
The Golden Knights grabbed a 2-1 lead early in the third period when Marner, stationed in the high slot, redirected Brayden McNabb’s point shot inside the right post.
Vegas extended the lead to two goals with 7:59 remaining. Smith roofed a crossing pass from Rasmus Andersson past Kokko’s glove side to finish a 2-on-1 rush.
Smith then sealed the win when he tapped in a rebound inside the right post with 3:24 to go.
–Field Level Media
