How the Golden Knights can clinch a playoff spot on Saturday

DENVER — It’s simple for the Vegas Golden Knights.

Win on Saturday against the best team in the NHL, and they’re going to the playoffs for the eighth time in nine seasons.

There’s also a possibility the Knights don’t have to wait until the conclusion of their showdown against the Colorado Avalanche at Ball Arena.

The Knights’ magic number is down to two following an eventful Thursday where nearly every scenario needed to better their clinching chances almost came through.

Despite the Knights letting a two-goal lead slip Thursday in the 4-3 shootout loss to the Seattle Kraken, that point they earned helped the process.

The Los Angeles Kings didn’t help the Knights’ cause in their 4-1 win over the Vancouver Canucks. Yet they got help from the Utah Mammoth after a convincing 4-1 win over the Nashville Predators to clinch a playoff spot.

Saturday is a busy slate with 30 of the 32 teams playing. The Knights could clinch before their 5 p.m. puck drop against the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Avalanche.

How the Knights can clinch

— The Knights win in any fashion over Colorado.

— Or losses in any fashion from Nashville (vs. Minnesota, 2 p.m.) and the Winnipeg Jets (at Philadelphia, 4 p.m.), and if the Knights earn at least a point against Colorado.

— The Knights can also clinch if Nashville and Winnipeg lose in regulation and the San Jose Sharks (vs. Vancouver, 7 p.m.) lose in any fashion.

Up next

Who: Golden Knights at Avalanche

When: 5 p.m. Saturday

Where: Ball Arena, Denver

TV: ABC

Radio: KFLG 94.7 FM/KKGK 1340 AM