Golden Knights can clinch

Vegas can wrap up the Pacific Division on Wednesday night with a single standings point against Seattle, which would also set a first-round series against the Utah Mammoth. (nhl.com) The Golden Knights entered their regular-season finale at 38-26-17, and the game against the Kraken was scheduled for 10 p.m. Eastern on April 15 at T-Mobile Arena. Seattle came in at 34-35-11. (nhl.com) A point matters because the National Hockey League standings award two points for a win and one for an overtime or shootout loss. Vegas only needs one more point to remove any doubt atop the Pacific. (nhl.com) Utah already secured the first wild-card spot in the Western Conference on April 14 with a 5-3 win over Winnipeg, combined with Anaheim’s regulation loss. That result narrowed the bracket: the Mammoth would face the Pacific Division winner. (nhl.com) That left Vegas playing for more than a banner. First place in the division would bring home ice in the opening round and avoid the extra uncertainty still hanging over the rest of the Pacific race. (nhl.com) The Pacific picture stayed unsettled until the final week. On April 11, NHL.com listed Vegas one point behind Edmonton and tied with Anaheim while the Golden Knights were still trying to clinch a playoff berth at all. (nhl.com) By April 13, the Ducks, Oilers and Golden Knights were still part of the division race, with Los Angeles also in the playoff mix lower down the bracket. Two days later, all 16 postseason spots were filled, but Western Conference seeding was still moving. (nhl.com) If Vegas gets that point against Seattle, the waiting ends immediately: the Golden Knights open the playoffs as Pacific champions, and Utah heads to Nevada for Game 1. (nhl.com)