The Los Angeles Kings saw their playoff hopes take a huge hit last night. Not only did the defending champs lose in Edmonton, the Flames and Jets both won.
According to Sports Club Stats, the Kings’ chances of making the playoffs have fallen to just 21.6 percent. Even if they win both their remaining games, Thursday in Calgary and Saturday versus San Jose, they may not qualify. The worst record they could post and still have a shot is 1-0-1, but they’d need even more help then.
OK, so let’s assume they win both games in regulation and finish with 97 points. To beat out the Flames, they’d need:
--- Calgary to lose in some fashion at Winnipeg on the final day of the season. (Which would leave the Flames with, at most, 96 points.)
To beat out the Jets, they’d need:
--- Winnipeg to go 0-1-1 or worse at Colorado and versus Calgary. (Which would leave the Jets with, at most, 97 points, meaning the Kings would go through on the tie-breaker.)
Both Calgary and Winnipeg can clinch a playoff spot (and eliminate L.A.) Thursday -- the Flames with a win over the Kings, the Jets with a win in Colorado.