Playoff scenarios, evening edition

With Phoenix’s regulation victory over St. Louis, the Kings’ playoff picture has narrowed a bit. Phoenix has moved into first place in the Pacific Division, with 95 points (35 regulation/overtime wins), followed by the Kings (94 points, 34 ROW) and San Jose (94 points, 33 ROW). Tomorrow, the regular season ends. Minnesota hosts Phoenix at 5 p.m. Pacific time and San Jose hosts the Kings at 7:30 p.m. Given that the Coyotes play first, here are the scenarios for the Kings in terms of seeding…

— If Phoenix beats Minnesota in regulation, overtime or a shootout — two points — the Coyotes win the division. The winner of the Kings-Sharks game would finish seventh in the Western Conference.

— If Phoenix loses to Minnesota in overtime or a shootout — one point — the Kings would win the division if they beat San Jose in regulation or overtime. The Kings would finish seventh if they beat San Jose in a shootout, and eighth if they lost to San Jose.

— If Phoenix loses to Minnesota in regulation — zero points — the winner of the Kings-San Jose game would win the division. Phoenix would finish seventh and the loser of the Kings-San Jose game would finish eighth.

In terms of other seedings, Vancouver will finish in first place if it gets at least one point against Edmonton, or if St. Louis fails to get both points against Dallas. Chicago will finish sixth unless it beats Detroit in regulation, in which case Detroit would finish sixth.

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