It's tough to believe that the Pacific Division has been absolute cheeks this season. I mean, it was supposed to be just the Vegas Golden Knights and the Edmonton Oilers competing for divisional supremacy all alone. While the two are firmly in the mix, they've vastly underachieved.
There was an intriguing statistic that popped up on Tuesday, showcasing the division's overall mediocrity. We're looking at the goal differential here, which highlights how bad each Pacific Division team has been this season. You might want to avert your eyes because this is a tough watch, mate.
The NHL should think twice about inviting the Pacific Division to the Playoffs @spittinchiclets pic.twitter.com/gEVhfgy3wo
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) March 25, 2026
To put things further into perspective, only the Oilers had a positive goal differential entering Wednesday (+4). The Golden Knights had a goal differential of 0, while the division-leading Anaheim Ducks had a goal differential of -5. As for Vegas, they're 3-7-0 in their last 10 games, becoming closer to missing out on Stanley Cup playoff action altogether (the Los Angeles Kings had 74 points entering Wednesday with a game in hand).
A mediocre Pacific Division is the only saving grace for the Vegas Golden Knights right now
If there was ever a time where the Golden Knights could really feast on some overtime and shootout losses, it's right now. The rest of the division is starting to catch up and the Kings are only four points out. Vegas had 14 overtime losses entering Wednesday and were on pace to shatter the NHL record at one point.
The good news (at least on the surface) is that only three games are against non-Pacific Division foes. That consists of home games against the Washington Capitals and the Winnipeg Jets and one road game against the Colorado Avalanche.
While that's easier said than done, it still provides an ample opportunity for Vegas to put together a nice lil' streak. That could make them one of the most potent playoff teams (if they make it to that level, that is) around. Sure, there might be games against the Edmonton Oilers coming up. But Vegas still has that chance, considering that they're facing a Pacific Division opponent.
Still, that's the thing with the Golden Knights. They might not capitalize on that "golden" opportunity. The team has vastly underachieved throughout the 2025-26 season, disappointing many people with cold scoring streaks and bad goaltending. Can they right the ship in time to avoid a catastrophe? Stay tuned.