The Vancouver Canucks are closer to clinching a playoff spot on Saturday for the first time since 2020. And they don't even have to step on the ice.
According to the NHL, the Canucks can secure their ticket on Saturday if the Wild lose to the Golden Knights in any manner and the Blues fall to the Sharks in regulation. It would mark just their second playoff appearance since 2015.
The Canucks are halfway there after the Knights beat the Wild 2-1 in overtime. Now they'll be watching the Blues-Sharks game with interest, which can be seen at 5 p.m. PT / 8 p.m. ET on Sportsnet+.
Vancouver (45-20-8) is in first place in the Pacific Division with 98 points, holding down the second seed in the Western Conference.
Meanwhile, the Colorado Avalanche are another team with the opportunity to clinch on Saturday. Before their game against the Nashville Predators (3 p.m. PT / 6 p.m. ET on Sportsnet+), the NHL outlined four possible scenarios for the Avalanche to clinch:
1. Colorado wins against Nashville in regulation or overtime.
2. Colorado wins against the Predators in a shootout and the Blues-Sharks game ends in any result other than a Blues regulation win.
3. Colorado earns one point against the Predators and the Blues lose to the Sharks in any fashion.
4. The Wild lose to the Golden Knights in any fashion and the Blues lose to the Sharks in regulation.
The Avalanche (46-21-6) sit second in the Central Division and third in the Western Conference.
The New York Rangers, Dallas Stars, Carolina Hurricanes, Boston Bruins and Florida Panthers have all already clinched their spots in the post-season.
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