Golden Knights Defeat Kraken In Last Home Game Of Regular Season

The Vegas Golden Knights (50-22-8, 109 points) defeated the Seattle Kraken (46-27-100 points) by a score of 4-1 Tuesday night in the last home regular season game of the 2022-23 season. Despite the win, nothing is confirmed in terms of playoff matchups, as the Edmonton Oilers won their game.

The VGK went with their same forward group as Jack Eichel, most notably, remained out. With Zach Whitecloud now injured, Brayden Pachal played on the third pairing. Laurent Brossoit got the start in the goal.

FIRST PERIOD

• A pair of Braydens teamed up for some solid shots from the point in Brayden McNabb and Brayden Pachal.
• Reilly Smith made a centering feed to William Karlsson off the rush, but Bill couldn't handle the pass, and Joey Daccord made the stop.
• 1-0 VGK GOAL- William Karlsson deked through a bunch of Kraken players and got the puck to Reilly Smith, who then found Michael Amadio.

• On the very next shift, Chandler Stephenson rushed to the net and passed to Ivan Barbashev cutting in the slot for a chance.
• 1-1 SEA GOAL- The Kraken tied the game with Yanni Gourde ripping a perfectly-placed wrist shot on Laurent Brossoit.
• William Karlsson drove to the net again for a decent chance. Afterward, he got into a post-whistle scrum with Vince Dunn.
• SEA PP- Phil Kessel was called for high-sticking Jesper Froden.

SECOND PERIOD

• 2-1 VGK GOAL- William Karlsson and Reilly Smith set up Michael Amadio for yet another goal in front of the net.

• Brett Howden fed Teddy Blueger for a cross-ice pass. Blueger had a wide-open net and missed the cage entirely. 
• NO GOAL- Joey Daccord covered up the puck but slid backward with it underneath him, possibly over the goal line. No goal was called.
• The line of Chandler Stephenson, Phil Kessel, and Ivan Barbashev put together an excellent shift with several chances.
• VGK PP- Oliver Bjorkstrand took a holding penalty on Jonathan Marchessault as he drove to the net.
• Jordan Eberle handled a long stretch pass and went in and fired a slap shot on Laurent Brossoit, which was stopped.
• Keegan Kolesar went off to the races on a breakaway, but lost control of the puck and didn't get a quality shot on goal.
• 3-1 VGK GOAL- Nicolas Hague and Michael Amadio played catch entering the offensive zone, and Reilly Smith cleaned up a rebound for a goal.

THIRD PERIOD

• Jesper Froden ripped a shot past Laurent Brossoit that hit the post and stayed out.
• 5 on 3 VGK PP- Will Borgen and Jesper Froden went to the box on the same play, giving the VGK a full two-minute powerplay.
• Before the Golden Knight's powerplay, head coach Bruce Cassidy used his timeout to rest his players and draw up a game plan.
• 4-1 VGK GOAL- The Golden Knights executed the powerplay to perfection, as Jonathan Marchessault scored 18 seconds in.

• SEA PP- Brayden Pachal, after all Kraken penalties expired, took one himself. The Golden Knights killed.
• The Golden Knights closed out the game, limiting the Kraken to just three shots in the third period.

GOLDEN KNIGHTS NOTES

• The Golden Knights hit the 50-win mark for the second time in their history. The other time was the inaugural 2017-18 season.
• Elsewhere in the NHL, the Winnipeg Jets clinched the final spot in the Western Conference Playoffs, eliminating the Nashville Predators' hopes.
• The Edmonton Oilers won their game against the Colorado Avalanche, which went to overtime. The Oilers can still win the Pacific Division.
• Reilly Smith hit the 25-goal mark for the third time in his career with a goal in the second period. He also had three points on the night.
• In the last regular season home game of the season, T-Mobile Arena saw 18,377 fans. The home ice regular season attendance record came at the home opener against the Chicago Blackhawks on 10/13, where 18,467 fans were in attendance. Certainly more in the playoffs.
• Given it was fan appreciation night, season ticket holders took to the ice after the game and met the players, and received merchandise.

VHN's Player of the Game: Michael Amadio.

Up Next: The Golden Knights will finish their 2022-23 regular season schedule on Thursday against the Seattle Kraken.