Golden Knights Edge Canucks with Late Goal to Keep Lead in Pacific Division

Game Recap

The Vegas Golden Knights secured a thrilling 3-2 victory over the Vancouver Canucks on Sunday night at Rogers Arena. Victor Olofsson netted the decisive goal with just over three minutes remaining, capitalizing on a precise assist from William Karlsson, who maneuvered behind the net to set up the play.

Ivan Barbashev and Nicolas Roy also contributed goals for Vegas, while goaltender Adin Hill made 19 crucial saves to notch his 30th win of the season. On the Canucks' side, Nils Hoglander and Aatu Raty found the back of the net, but their efforts fell short. This loss leaves Vancouver trailing the Minnesota Wild by eight points for the final Western Conference wild-card spot, with only five games remaining.

Pacific Division Standings

With this win, the Golden Knights have strengthened their lead in the Pacific Division. Here's a look at the current top three teams:

Team	Record	Points	Games Remaining
Vegas Golden Knights	47-22-8	102	5
Los Angeles Kings	44-23-9	97	6
Edmonton Oilers	44-27-5	93	6

Postseason Pressure Building

With just weeks left in the regular season, the playoff picture is sharpening—but far from set. Every point matters, and one misstep could be the difference between tee time and puck drop in May.

Western Conference Drama

In the West, the Golden Knights, Kings, and Predators are all in a dogfight for wildcard and divisional positioning. The Winnipeg Jets and Dallas Stars are clinging to strong leads in the Central, with the Colorado Avalanche clinching a divisional spot already as well. Vegas' recent form is helping them climb, but the Kings, lurking just a few points behind, could leapfrog with a hot week.

With the recent performance by the St. Louis Blues, who are making a late push it has put them in the top wildcard spot for now. They’ll likely need to grab a few more wins though to secure it.

Eastern Conference Heat

Over in the East, things are equally spicy especially for the wild card slots. At the top of the Metropolitan Division sit the Washington Capitals, followed by the Carolina Hurricanes have both secured playoff bids with the last divisional spot virtually locked in for the New Jersey Devils. In the Atlantic Division, the Toronto Maple Leafs, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Florida Panthers have all locked in their playoff births leaving nearly the rest of the division still vying for a wildcard spot.

With 5-6 games remaining for most teams, every matchup is crucial. The competition is fierce, and the outcomes of these final games will determine the Eastern Conference playoff picture.

Experience Game Day with Pregame Sports Bar Crawls

As the NHL season reaches its climax, immerse yourself in the excitement by joining Pregame Sports pub crawls. Party near the arena, enjoy exclusive drink specials, and watch live game broadcasts in some of the best sports bars around. Stay tuned for upcoming events and make every game day a celebration! 🍻🏒🔥