Playoff chances take a hit, but clinching scenarios remain

The Los Angeles Kings’ playoff chances took a serious blow with Tuesday’s loss to the Edmonton Oilers, and SportsClubStats.com now lists their chances of making the playoffs at 21.6%.

There are still multiple scenarios in which Los Angeles can clinch a playoff berth. The clearest path requires Kings fans to cheer on the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday night (in addition, of course, to the Kings). The most likely playoff scenarios in which Los Angeles can clinch require the Kings to win both of their remaining games, on the road against Calgary and at home against San Jose, though there is still a very remote chance they could get in with one point on Thursday night (more on that in a moment).

There are three teams vying for two spots. They are:

Winnipeg (96 points)
Thursday: at Colorado
Saturday: vs Calgary

Calgary (95 points)
Thursday: vs Los Angeles
Saturday: at Winnipeg

Los Angeles (93 points)
Thursday: at Calgary
Saturday: vs San Jose

Winnipeg can claim either wild card berth, Calgary can claim the #2 or #3 Pacific Division seeds or either wild card berth, and Los Angeles can claim the #3 Pacific Division seed or a wild card berth. The Kings would hold the tiebreaker against the Jets should the teams finish tied in points but would not hold the tiebreaker against the Flames.

Should Colorado defeat Winnipeg in regulation and Los Angeles defeat Calgary in regulation, the Kings will make the playoffs if they beat San Jose, regardless of the outcome of the Flames-Jets game on Saturday.

That’s a pretty significant “if,” considering Colorado is 10 points behind Winnipeg and has already been eliminated. But, as we saw in tonight’s Edmonton win, no result is a given.

Another clinching scenario includes the Kings beating Calgary in regulation and San Jose, and the Jets beating the Flames in any fashion on Saturday afternoon. However, should Winnipeg beat Colorado on Thursday, they’ll already have clinched a playoff spot and would have little to play for, with Calgary needing a win at Winnipeg to get in. That’s not the most appealing scenario for Kings fans.

Should Los Angeles lose in overtime or a shootout in Calgary, they’d need to beat San Jose and hope that Winnipeg loses to both Colorado and Calgary in regulation.

There are other clinching scenarios involving three-point games, but we’ll cross those bridges once we get past Thursday night.

Interestingly, both the Winnipeg-Colorado and Los Angeles-Calgary games begin at 6:00 p.m. PT on Thursday, and both the Los Angeles-San Jose and Calgary-Winnipeg games begin at 12:00 p.m. PT on Saturday.

The easiest way for the Kings to enhance their chances? Win in Calgary in regulation on Thursday.