Silver Knights win Pacific Division title in inaugural season

The Henderson Silver Knights clinched the American Hockey League’s Pacific Division title in their first season Thursday with a 5-0 win over Bakersfield at Orleans Arena.

The championship means the Silver Knights will have home-ice advantage throughout the division playoffs. They will host a best-of-three semifinal series at Orleans Arena and would host the best-of-three final.

The Silver Knights copied the Golden Knights in winning their division in their inaugural season. They’re 25-12 with two games remaining.

“In this weird season with not a lot of things to really strive for, it’s been our main goal just to win this division in the regular season and get home ice for playoffs and set ourselves up for success,” defenseman Jimmy Schuldt said. “It feels good to accomplish something this year and do it together.”

The Silver Knights entered Thursday needing one win or three overtime or shootout losses to clinch the division in their final series against second-place Bakersfield.

Forwards Pavel Dorofeyev, Danny O’Regan, Jake Leschyshyn and Tomas Jurco, and defenseman Zack Hayes, scored. Goaltender Logan Thompson continued his stellar season by winning for the 16th time in 23 games and posting his second shutout.

The Silver Knights’ final two regular-season games are Saturday and Sunday against Bakersfield at Orleans Arena.

“First and foremost, really proud of our team, the guys,” coach Manny Viveiros said. “Obviously, a difficult season. I thought our guys played exceptionally well.”

Contact Ben Gotz at bgotz@reviewjournal.com. Follow @BenSGotz on Twitter.