Noah Hanifin scored the goal with 1:55 remaining as the Vegas Golden Knights secured a 5-3 victory over the Nashville Predators on Saturday night, clinching their fourth Pacific Division title in eight seasons.
Brett Howden and Nicolas Roy each tallied a goal and an assist, Alexander Holtz scored on the power play, and Ivan Barbashev sealed the win with an empty-net goal. Adin Hill made 14 saves in net, earning his first win of the season when allowing three or more goals — after previously going 0-14 in such games.
Jordan Oesterle, former Golden Knight Jonathan Marchessault, and Marc Del Gaizo scored for the Predators. Marchessault and Del Gaizo each found the net early in the third to pull Nashville even at 3-3.
Justus Annunen stopped 24 shots for the Predators, whose two-game winning streak ended following a prior six-game skid.
Game Takeaways
Golden Knights: Vegas has won four of its last five games and set a new franchise record with 61 home points. They also tied the team record for home wins in a season with 29, matching the 2017-18 squad that reached the Stanley Cup Final.
Predators: The loss halted a brief win streak for Nashville, which has battled inconsistency down the stretch.
Key Moment
Hanifin, who had gone seven games without a point and 15 without a goal, broke the deadlock with a blistering slap shot late in the third period to put Vegas ahead for good.
Key Stat
Shea Theodore recorded an assist on Roy’s goal, giving him 55 points on the season (seven goals, 48 assists) — a new franchise record for points in a season by a Golden Knights defenseman. Vegas outshot Nashville 29-17.
Looking Ahead
Predators: Host the Utah Hockey Club on Monday night.
Golden Knights: Travel to face the Calgary Flames on Tuesday night.
