Thread by @mediachristian4

It’s rare that a modern day hockey expansion team misses its first postseason in its 5th season; it could happen this year, and if it does - Saturday, April 16, 2022 was the fulcrum point. #VGKvsNJD 1/14

For on 4/16/22, the @GoldenKnights played at the @EdmontonOilers in a game it didn’t even have to win in order to get back into playoff position…Vegas started that day a point back of the @LAKings, and having played one game less than LA… #VGKvsNJD 2/14

With the #NHL tiebreaker system as it is, the @GoldenKnights - with an overtime or shootout loss - would have tied the @LAKings in points and games…and since VGK had more regulation wins than LA, Vegas would’ve been 3rd and… #VGKvsNJD 3/14

…the @lakings would have been 4th…and, since both the @PredsNHL and @DallasStars had more points than LA AND the @GoldenKnights, LA would have replaced Vegas as an out of playoffs team. #VGKvsNJD 4/14

Had the @LAKings defeated the @BlueJacketsNHL that night at @cryptocomarena, LA would have gone back up by 2 points, BUT the @GoldenKnights still had a “game in hand” on LA. Had both LA and VGK won out, Vegas gets in and LA misses its 4th straight postseason. #VGKvsNJD 5/14

So what happened?

Not only did the @GoldenKnights lose at the @EdmontonOilers - they lost in regulation, shut out 4-0. Vegas still trailed the @lakings by a point but they no longer controlled their own destiny… #VGKvsNJD 6/14

They needed the @lakings, who were just mauled at the @Avalanche 3 days prior - to lose against the @BlueJacketsNHL - a team that plays them tough…and also traded two key Cup components years back in Jeff Carter and Marian Gaborik… #VGKvsNJD 7/14

The one thing the @GoldenKnights did not want to happen…happened in LA - the @lakings defeated the @BlueJacketsNHL 2-1 in regulation…meaning LA now led Vegas by 3 points and now controlled its own destiny… #VGKvsNJD 8/14

With the @lakings having 5 remaining games on its schedule, and the @GoldenKnights having 6 on theirs, the most points Vegas could amass is 99…if it won out. LA could amass 100 and, of the two teams, LA had - on paper - far more of a favorable schedule. #VGKvsNJD 9/14

So, if the @GoldenKnights win the rest of their games…and the @LAKings win the rest of theirs, LA would finish ahead of Vegas in the standings for the first time EVER…and, assuming the Preds and Stars remain wildcards, Vegas would miss the playoffs. #VGKvsNJD 10/14

For the @LAKings to win 6 games in a row is a huge “ask”…the team has won 2 in a row only once since March 7, when a 3 game win streak gave them 71 points in 58 games (they now have 90 points in 77 games, or 19 points in 19 games)… #VGKvsNJD 11/14

…and of the @LAKings’ 5 remaining games (home and home with the @AnaheimDucks, and one vs @NHLBlackhawks, at @SeattleKraken, at @Canucks) LA has lost to all 4 teams including a 6-1 home loss to SEA and a 4-0 road loss to VAN… #VGKvsNJD 12/14

…but there are probabilities and statuistical realities…if the @LAKings and @GoldenKnights win out, LA gets in for the first time since 2018 - when expansion Vegas swept them out in Round 1. #VGKvsNJD 13/14

I’ll request a thread unroll and tag with the game hashtag during our game thread since there won’t be any way to recreate it in-game…but that’s what’s at stake for the 5th year @GoldenKnights as they play…and hope for help… <end>. #VGKvsNJD 14/14

@threadreaderapp please unroll