Golden Knights defeat Sharks, become first to clinch playoff berth

LAS VEGAS -- The Vegas Golden Knights became the first team this season to clinch a Stanley Cup Playoff berth with a 5-2 win against the San Jose Sharks at T-Mobile Arena on Wednesday.

Vegas (33-11-2) got the one point it needed to assure its place as one of the four qualifying teams from the Honda West Division. It leads the Colorado Avalanche by four points having played three more games.
"It's an accomplishment in this league; 31 teams try to make the playoffs. I don't overlook that," Golden Knights coach Peter DeBoer said. "I've been on the other end of it, scratched and clawed, and missed. Once you get in, all those 16 teams have an opportunity. It's nice we punched our ticket."
Jonathan Marchessault had two goals and two assists, and Mark Stone scored to extend his point streak to six games for the Golden Knights, who tied their record with their eighth consecutive win. Marc-Andre Fleury made 31 saves.
Vegas improved to 7-0-0 this season against San Jose, including a 3-2 shootout win Monday.
"Reaching that point where we are right now in the season, I think it's good," Vegas defenseman Shea Theodore said. "Going forward, we've got to focus on our game. We have to be ready for the situations that come down the stretch. That's when you have to rev up and play your best game. It's good that we're in, but we have a lot of work to do."

Timo Meier and Tomas Hertl scored, and Josef Korenar made 35 saves for the Sharks (18-23-5), who lost their seventh in a row (0-6-1).
Sharks forward Patrick Marleau had an assist in his 900th consecutive NHL game. Marleau, who played his 1,768th game here Monday to pass Gordie Howe for the most all-time, joined Florida Panthers defenseman Keith Yandle (913) as the only active players to play 900 in a row. They trail Doug Jarvis (964) and Garry Unger (914).
"The hottest team in the League, it's not just us. We're a team that doesn't match up on paper to them," Sharks coach Bob Boughner said. "So a lot of things have to go right for us. They find ways to win."
The Sharks are in sixth place in the division, four points behind the fourth-place Arizona Coyotes, who lost to the Minnesota Wild 4-1 on Wednesday. The top four teams will qualify for the playoffs.
"It doesn't matter who we're playing, we want to win," Sharks defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic said. "We're focusing on making the playoffs. We're still in it. Three teams still fighting for that last spot. We can get there, we just have to get points."
Meier scored on a deflection in the crease at 2:38 of the first period to give the Sharks a 1-0 lead.
Marchessault tied it 1-1 at 6:51, ending a six-game goal drought.
Hertl gave the Sharks a 2-1 lead at 11:07 of the second period.

Stone tied it 2-2 on the power play at 12:52. Max Pacioretty had an assist for his 600th NHL point, becoming the 10th active United States-born player to reach that mark.
Alex Tuch scored at 19:10 to give the Golden Knights a 3-2 lead.
Marchessault scored his second at 13:18 of the third to make it 4-2, and Mattias Janmark scored into an empty net at 19:04 for the 5-2 final.
Vegas has made the playoffs in every season since entering the NHL in 2017, including an appearance in the Stanley Cup Final during its inaugural season.
"The first year, we were just concentrating on winning four games, probably," Marchessault said. "I think it's something our group and organization should be proud of. Four straight years in the playoffs, that's how you build a franchise."
NOTES:Vegas is the fourth team in NHL history to qualify for the playoffs in each of its first four seasons (Edmonton Oilers, 13, 1980-92; New York Rangers, 9, 1927-35; St. Louis Blues, 6, 1968-73). … Marchessault also scored four points (two goals, two assists) in a 7-3 win against the Sharks on March 18, 2019. … Pacioretty has 10 points (three goals, seven assists) in a six-game point streak. He has 302 goals and 298 assists in 807 NHL games in 13 seasons with the Golden Knights and Montreal Canadiens. … Fleury won his 487th NHL game. He is two wins behind Roberto Luongo for third in NHL history. … Vegas also won eight in a row from Dec. 14, 2017-Jan. 2, 2018. … Stone had his five-game multipoint streak end. … Janmark scored his first goal in his fifth game with the Golden Knights after being acquired in a trade with the Chicago Blackhawks on April 12. … Korenar is 0-2-0 in four appearances this season. The 35 saves were an NHL career high for the rookie.