The Golden Knights lead the league in regulation wins. That’s a sign of a team that knows how to get the job done.

That applies to having a two-goal lead in the third period and letting it get away.

But the way the Knights dominated through 40 minutes provided an inkling that they were going to find a way eventually.

And they did. Defenseman Noah Hanifin broke a tie with 1:55 remaining, giving the Knights their fourth Pacific Division title in eight seasons with a 5-3 win over the Nashville Predators on Saturday at T-Mobile Arena.

The win was the Knights’ 45th regulation win of the season, clinching the tiebreaker over the Los Angeles Kings. The Knights reached 107 points, which is the most the Kings can finish with.

“That was our goal coming back home these few games,” Hanifin said. “We wanted to get the wins so we could clinch the division. It’s a great situation to be in.”

The Knights (49-22-9) outshot the Predators 15-5 in the first period but trailed 1-0 after defenseman Jordan Oesterle fired a one-timer at 8:11.

The Knights answered back with three goals in 7:07 during the second period from centers Brett Howden and Nicolas Roy and right wing Alexander Holtz.

Nashville (29-43-8) battled back with two goals in the first 4:58 in the third.

Former Original Misfit forward Jonathan Marchessault scored 1:02 into the third in his first game back at T-Mobile Arena since signing a five-year deal with Nashville on July 1. Defenseman Marc Del Gaizo tied it minutes later.

But with the Knights needing a regulation win to clinch the division, Hanifin’s shot from the point beat Nashville goalie Justus Annunen for their 10th win in the past 13 games.

Goaltender Adin Hill made 14 saves in his 50th start of the season, and left wing Ivan Barbashev scored into an empty net with two seconds remaining.

“You’ve got to be mindful that another team might not let you off the hook if you do that. We have to be careful with that,” coach Bruce Cassidy said. “Every team in this league is good. I don’t care who you’re playing, a team that’s eliminated or in first place, whatever. They’re going to make you pay.

“We got a wake-up call there in the third. I thought we started to get to our game better.”

The Knights are guaranteed home-ice advantage through the first two rounds of the playoffs. They will host the first wild card in the Western Conference, which could be the Minnesota Wild, St. Louis Blues or Calgary Flames.

Minnesota won 3-2 in overtime against the Vancouver Canucks, while St. Louis lost 4-3 in a shootout to the Seattle Kraken. The Wild lead the Blues by one point. Both teams have one game remaining.

The Flames trail the Blues by four points and Wild by five points with three games left.

If history is any indication, a deep playoff run could be in the Knights’ future. They’ve made it to the Western Conference Final in their three previous division-winning seasons and twice to the Stanley Cup Final.

For a team that’s been to the top before, they know the job isn’t done.

“It’s obviously an accomplishment. You play for that the whole year. We’re excited we were able to do that and clinch that,” Howden said. “There’s no celebrating here. We know how much work is ahead of us.”

Here are three takeaways from the win:

1. Marchessault’s return

Marchessault said he had butterflies when he woke up Saturday, knowing what lay ahead.

The Knights’ all-time scoring leader was greeted with a tribute video at the first TV timeout that lasted more than two minutes. Fans stood and gave a standing ovation halfway through.

Marchessault, holding back tears, circled around center ice, acknowledged the fans and his former teammates.

“It was unbelievable,” Marchessault said. “It’s what you expect from a high-class organization and high-class people from top to bottom. Great fans who were always there for me and my family, but really anyone who puts on a jersey here.”

The 2023 Conn Smythe Trophy winner for playoff MVP scored his 20th goal of the season to give him 54 points in 76 games in his first year in Nashville.

“It definitely never happened to me, scoring in The Fortress and being dead silent,” Marchessault joked. “But it was a good atmosphere. Great building.”

2. Holtz on the board

No player flashed a bigger smile after scoring than Holtz.

The 23-year-old, playing in place of left wing Victor Olofsson (illness), scored his first goal since Jan. 2 at 11:09 of the second.

The No. 7 overall pick in the 2020 draft, who was acquired in a trade with the New Jersey Devils for left wing Paul Cotter on June 29, struggled with the Knights. He had 11 points in 50 games coming in and was sent down to AHL Henderson.

Holtz regained his form with 13 points in 16 games and was rewarded for the work he put in.

“I would say I feel more confident,” Holtz said. “It’s fun to be out there and really fun to be with this group again. Nice to get a win.”

3. Down the stretch

Wrapping up the division now was the best-case scenario for the Knights.

They won a second straight game without center Jack Eichel (upper body), defensemen Alex Pietrangelo and Nic Hague (illness) and Olofsson. The stress of needing to rush any of them back for a back-to-back in Calgary on Tuesday and in Vancouver on Wednesday goes out the window.

That also eases the burden of the importance of these final two games.

“I think, and I hate to say this, we’re going to be OK no matter what happens with those two games,” Cassidy said. “Right now, it has been such a grind for a lot of these guys. … We’re not going to take our foot off the gas, per se, but we have to use these games where it can’t be, ‘win, or we’re going sideways.’ It can’t be that message.”

Contact Danny Webster at [email protected]. Follow @DannyWebster21 on X.