Golden Knights clinch spot in 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs

One of the premier franchises since its debut is gearing up for another postseason run.

Thanks to a 3-2 win against Colorado on Saturday, the Vegas Golden Knights officially clinched a spot in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

While the Golden Knights are accustomed to playing beyond the regular season and being considered a threat to make a deep run, things feel a little different this year. General manager Kelly McCrimmon made a big swing in the offseason to acquire Mitch Marner from the Toronto Maple Leafs, but the team has hardly been considered a dominant force compared to the rest of the top dogs in the NHL.

Vegas has been battling for first place in the Pacific Division, which is widely regarded as the worst division in hockey. There’s a chance that the team could finish with the worst winning percentage in team history and the fewest points in an 82-game regular season.

While the Golden Knights have never had to rely on goaltending to be successful, the team has been good in spite of lackluster play between the pipes. Akira Schmid has played the majority of the season, but has a measly 16-10-6 record, with a 2.59 goals-against average and a .893 save percentage. Adin Hill, the hero from the 2023 Stanley Cup run, has also been below mediocre, delivering a 3.04 GAA and .871 SV% in 27 starts. There was also the controversial addition of Carter Hart, and while he has an 8-3-3 record, the former Philadelphia Flyer has just a 2.93 GAA and .881 SV%.

Thankfully, Vegas has the offensive weapons to get them out of trouble on some nights. Jack Eichel leads the crew with 83 points this season, while Marner is averaging a point per game with 78 points. Captain Mark Stone, despite missing dozens of games due to injury, has managed to score 69 points in 57 appearances.

Even with the ups and downs, the Golden Knights (36-26-17) have a chance to win the Pacific, sitting one point back of the Edmonton Oilers for first with just two games remaining.