Golden Knights clinch playoff berth with win over Sharks
Clinching a playoff berth was so important to the Golden Knights that defenseman Alec Martinez wasn’t even aware Wednesday morning that they could do it.
The Knights have much loftier goals than just making the postseason four years into their existence. But they took the first step Wednesday night.
The Knights became the first NHL team to punch a ticket to the playoffs with a 5-2 win over the San Jose Sharks at T-Mobile Arena. They’re the fourth franchise in league history to reach the postseason in their first four years, behind the New York Rangers (1927-35), St. Louis Blues (1968-73) and Edmonton Oilers (1980-92).
“The first year we were concentrating on just winning more than four games probably,” left wing Jonathan Marchessault said. “But I think it’s something our group, this organization should be really proud of. Four straight years in the playoffs, that’s how you build a franchise. But at the point where we are, it’s time for us to step (up in) the playoffs. We cannot come any shorter than the Stanley Cup.”
The Knights won their eighth straight to earn their playoff spot with 10 games remaining. They needed one point against the Sharks to clinch, but took both to improve to 7-0-0 against their rivals.
Marchessault had two goals and two assists for the second four-point game of his career. Captain Mark Stone scored his third power-play goal in the past two games, right wing Alex Tuch and left wing Mattias Janmark added goals, and left wing Max Pacioretty recorded an assist for the 600th point of his career.
The goal was Janmark’s first in five games with the Knights since arriving after the April 12 trade deadline.
“I’ve had every opportunity to really find my game,” Janmark said. “The coaches have been great. They’re playing me a lot, more than I could ever ask for. It’s been really easy, but the hard part is trying to maintain it and keep getting better.”
The Sharks had 1-0 and 2-1 leads, but the Knights brought continuous pressure to goaltender Josef Korenar, who was making his second career start.
They had 19 shots on goal in the first period and finished with 40. Marchessault tied the game 1-1 and Stone tied it 2-2 before Tuch gave the Knights the lead for good with 50 seconds left in the second period.
Tuch was uncovered at the left side of the Sharks’ net, and defenseman Shea Theodore found him with a pass from the point.
“I was honestly going to shoot it,” Theodore said. “I’m not sure where he came from, but he popped out at the side of the net and made a good play.”
Marchessault scored his second goal to increase the lead to 4-2 with 6:42 remaining, then set up his new teammate to end the game. Marchessault nearly scored on an empty net to record a hat trick, but he picked up his own miss and found Janmark.
The Knights were celebrating their playoff berth moments later.
“It’s an accomplishment in this league,” coach Pete DeBoer said. “It always has been. I don’t overlook that. I’ve been on the other end of it and scratched and clawed and missed. It is an accomplishment to take that first step and be part of that playoff.”
Contact Ben Gotz at bgotz@reviewjournal.com. Follow @BenSGotz on Twitter.
