The Vegas Golden Knights can do something impressive on Monday: Clinch their seventh Stanley Cup playoff berth in eight seasons. How, you ask? Well, they don't have to do anything. They can just slip on the comfiest slippers, put up their feet, and relax. Add an ice-cold beer and watch the fun unfold.
They already watched the Vancouver Canucks go down to the Winnipeg Jets on Sunday, after all. A 3-1 loss moved the Golden Knights one step closer to clinching that playoff spot. With the Canucks 17 points out of the Pacific Division top spot, there's no chance they'll repeat as divisional champions.
Mind you, being on a six-game winning streak will get them in this position. Sweeping both the last homestand and the last road trip put them in an enviable spot. Getting your seventh playoff berth in your first eight seasons is also a testament to strong ownership from Bill Foley. Without the team owner leading the ship, where would Vegas be? They would've moved to Saskatoon like their desert brethren, the Arizona Coyotes.
So who's the mystery team that can "help" them? What can they do to get a playoff spot for the seventh time in franchise history? Well, it comes courtesy of one of their divisional rivals. This team can give them another berth by simply losing. Here's the catch: It's easier than it looks, too.
The Calgary Flames can give the Vegas Golden Knights a playoff spot on Monday
Currently, the Calgary Flames stand at 80 points. Technically, they can surpass the Vegas Golden Knights and leave them out of a playoff spot. However, that chance is minimal at best. Not many people expected the Flames to make a playoff run this season, mind you. Yet, they're extending that run into April.
However, Monday isn't going to be easy for Calgary. They must take on the Colorado Avalanche in Denver.
Colorado is in a dogfight with the Dallas Stars for home-ice advantage for their impending first-round matchup. Caught in the crosshairs are the Flames, who are simply trying to survive.
But how can you do that on the road against Nathan MacKinnon (109 points, tied for most in the NHL)? That's not even mentioning the various additions the Avalanche made. That includes Brock Nelson (23 goals and 28 assists) and Ryan Lindgren (18 assists). All this should amount to the Golden Knights booking their tickets to the Stanley Cup playoffs IF they lose in regulation.
It'll also make Tuesday's game against the Edmonton Oilers much easier. You can take care of business against a division rival and move closer to clinching the division. If Calgary wins? Oh well. You can clinch on your home ice, making things much sweeter. Plus, sticking it to your hated rival? Always a win.
Given how the schedule has shaken out, doing absolutely nothing and winning is always fun. All you need is for Calgary to lose to the Colorado Avalanche. That's it. It's akin to what the youngsters call, "Luigi wins by absolutely doing nothing." The Super Mario character stands around, does nothing, while everyone else fails. Now imagine Jack Eichel in place of Luigi. Isn't it beautiful?