With just five games remaining in their regular season, there is still much to be determined for the Vegas Golden Knights.
They could make the playoffs and face the Anaheim Ducks in the first round. They could make the playoffs and face the Edmonton Oilers in the first round. They could win the division and face WC1 (currently the Utah Mammoth) in the first round.
Now, it’s also still technically possible— although extremely unlikely— that the Golden Knights miss the postseason entirely. However, they’d basically have to lose out, and one of San Jose or Los Angeles would have to win out. There’s a reason why Moneypuck gives the Golden Knights a 97.4% chance to make the playoffs.
Regular-season series don’t always mean much in the grand scheme of things. In a seven-game series, coaches can make adjustments to counter their opponent. In an 82-game season, those adjustments are typically broader.That being said, in a tiebreaker situation, looking back on a regular-season series can make all the difference.
The top three spots of the Pacific Division are closer than ever. The Oilers currently hold the top spot with 87 points and the tiebreaker over the Ducks, but the Golden Knights lurk just one point back.
NHL Tiebreaker Protocols
If two or more NHL teams finish the regular season with the same number of points in the standings, playoff seeding is determined by these tiebreakers:
1. Regulation wins
2. Regulation and overtime wins (excluding shootout wins)
3. Total wins
4. Head-to-head points
5. Goal differential
6. Total goals for
Let’s take a look at how the Golden Knights measure up against the other two top teams in the Pacific Division.
Vegas Golden Knights
Regulation wins: 27
Regulation and overtime wins: 34
Total wins: 35
Goal differential: +7
Total goals: 247
Edmonton Oilers
The Oilers would hold the tiebreaker with more regulation wins (30).
The Oilers would hold the tiebreaker with more wins in regulation and overtime (39).
The Oilers would hold the tiebreaker with more total wins (39).
The Oilers would hold the tiebreaker with six head-to-head points against the Golden Knights this season.
The Oilers would hold the tiebreaker with a higher goal differential than the Golden Knights (+8).
The Oilers would hold the tiebreaker with a higher total of goals scored than the Golden Knights (265).
Anaheim Ducks
The Golden Knights would hold the tiebreaker with a higher number of regulation wins (the Ducks have 24).
The Golden Knights would hold the tiebreaker with more wins in regulation and overtime (the Ducks have 33).
The Ducks would hold the tiebreaker with more total wins (41).
The Ducks would hold the tiebreaker with six head-to-head points against the Golden Knights this season.
The Golden Knights would hold the tiebreaker with a higher goal differential (the Ducks have a -14).
The Ducks would hold the tiebreaker with a higher total of goals scored than the Golden Knights (257).