Let’s Dance, Baby: Golden Knights Can Clinch Postseason Monday

When it comes to entertainment, the Stanley Cup Playoffs are unrivaled. The weeks leading up to the postseason only add to the anticipation with teams competing to keep their season alive. Four teams have been eliminated thus far, and three have clinched a playoff berth. If all goes well, the Vegas Golden Knights could be the next team to officially clinch a playoff berth.

At 45-20-8, the Golden Knights have one of the best records in the league. Thus, their first opportunity to clinch a playoff berth comes while idle. They don’t play until Tuesday, but their first opportunity to punch their ticket to the dance is Monday. 

It’s simple: if the Colorado Avalanche defeat the Calgary Flames in regulation, the Golden Knights make the playoffs. It would be their seventh time making the postseason in eight seasons.

Should the Flames win– or lose in overtime or a shootout– the Golden Knights will have three possible clinching scenarios again on Tuesday. Let’s go over them:

1. The simplest way the Golden Knights can clinch a playoff berth is with any kind of win over the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday, April 1st.
2. If the Flames lose to the Avalanche on Monday in overtime or a shootout, and the Golden Knights lose to the Oilers in overtime or a shootout, they’re in.
3. If the St. Louis Blues lose to the Detroit Red Wings in overtime or a shootout, and the Golden Knights lose to the Oilers in overtime or a shootout, they’re in.

Should the Golden Knights beat the Oilers on Tuesday, they’ll record their third 100-point season in franchise history. They finished the 2017-18 season with 109 points; in 2022-23, they ended with 111.