When is the earliest the Golden Knights can clinch a playoff spot?

There’s a Jim Mora analogy here somewhere.

Playoffs? The Vegas Golden Knights were just hoping to win a game a little over a week ago.

They’ve won four straight now and are on the verge of an eighth playoff berth in nine seasons. It’s more a matter of “when,” no longer, “if.”

“When” is sometimes the hardest question to answer when figuring out clinching scenarios for the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Saturday looks to be the first day, should certain scenarios bounce in the Knights’ favor.

What needs to happen

The first order of business doesn’t involve the Knights.

- The San Jose Sharks play a back-to-back starting Wednesday against the Edmonton Oilers. San Jose would need to lose in regulation to both Edmonton, followed by the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday.

- Heading into Thursday, the Winnipeg Jets would need to defeat the St. Louis Blues in any fashion in a crucial game for both teams playoff hopes.

- The Los Angeles Kings, who have earned points in seven of their last eight games, would need to lose in regulation to the last-place Vancouver Canucks.

- The Knights would need a win of any fashion over the Seattle Kraken on Thursday.

If all that happens, the Knights could clinch on Saturday if the Jets lose in any fashion to the Philadelphia Flyers, or a win or overtime/shootout loss against the Colorado Avalanche at Ball Arena.

If not, we’ll do it all over again another day.