There is a little more clarity in the Kings’ playoff picture now. Essentially, the Kings’ “magic number’’ for clinching a playoff spot is one. If the Kings claim at least one of the four possible points remaining in their last two games, they will secure a playoff spot. Even if the Kings get zero points out of their last two games, they will secure a playoff spot if the Dallas Stars fail to record all four points out of their last two games. The Stars play at Nashville on Thursday and host St. Louis on Saturday.
As for the Pacific Division, there’s no further clarity tonight. With Phoenix’s win over Columbus tonight, the Kings and Coyotes each have 93 points in 80 games, while San Jose has 92 points. If the Kings win their final two games in regulation or overtime (not shootout), they will win the division, as they hold the second tiebreaker over the Coyotes. Anything less than that, and the Kings will need to Coyotes to drop points in at least one of their final two games. The Coyotes play at St. Louis on Friday and at Minnesota on Saturday.
The Kings can also finish no lower than seventh place in the Western Conference if they beat the Sharks in regulation or overtime on Thursday.
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