What’s at Stake in NHL: Will Golden Knights snatch final West playoff spot from Blues?

Welcome to the April leg of the 2023-24 NHL regular season. At this point in the calendar, the stakes are elevated. We’re starting to see teams clinch playoff spots. Players are hitting milestones. There’s seemingly something on the line every night.

So what’s at stake during the six-game slate of action on Friday, April 12?

– Because they won Thursday night, the San Jose Sharks (19-51-9) still haven’t clinched the top NHL Draft lottery odds. They will do so if the Chicago Blackhawks (23-50-5) beat the Nashville Predators Friday.

– The St. Louis Blues (43-32-5) stare down execution Friday. They will be eliminated from playoff contention if (a) they lose to the Carolina Hurricanes and the Vegas Golden Knights win in regulation vs. the Minnesota Wild or (b) if they lose to the Hurricanes in regulation and the Golden Knights tally a single point.

– Consequently, the Golden Knights (42-28-8) clinch the final Western Conference playoff spot if either of the above scenarios plays out.

– If the Edmonton Oilers (48-24-5) collect a single point against the Arizona Coyotes Friday, the Oilers will secure home ice in Round 1 of the playoffs.

– Will Connor McDavid (lower body) suit up against the Coyotes? If so, he’ll attempt once more to become the fourth player ever to record 100 assists in a season. He sits at 99, while the Tampa Bay Lightning’s Nikita Kucherov has 98.

– If the Carolina Hurricanes (50-22-7) lose to the Blues in regulation and the New York Rangers (53-23-4) defeat the New York Islanders in Saturday’s early matinee, the Rangers will clinch the Metropolitan Division title.

– Filip Forsberg has already equalled Matt Duchene’s Nashville Predators single-season record with 43 goals this season. With a goal Friday, Forsberg will set a new record at 44.