NHL Push for the Playoffs: Path for Golden Knights keeps getting tougher

Push for the Playoffs will run every morning through the end of the 2021-22 NHL season. We’ll highlight the current playoff picture in both conferences, take a look at what the first-round matchups might look like, see who’s leading the race for the best odds in the draft lottery and more.

After losing to the Devils on Monday night, at home, with their already slim Stanley Cup playoff chances teetering on the edge of collapse, the Golden Knights find themselves in a pretty dire position entering Wednesday’s game against the Capitals.

Their situation only got worse on Tuesday night even though they had the night off.

It was there that the gap between them and the playoff teams they are chasing only managed to increase thanks to wins by the Kings and Predators, as well as the Canucks gaining a point in a shootout loss to the Senators.

The result of the past 48 hours for the Golden Knights? A five-point deficit behind the Kings in the race for third place in the Pacific Division, a six-point deficit behind the Predators for the first Wild Card spot, and still a four-point gap behind the Stars for the second Wild Card spot while the Stars still have two games in hand. Even worse, they are now tied in the standings with the Canucks with 87 points.

Including Wednesday’s game against Washington, Vegas will play three of its remaining five games against potential playoff teams, with games against Dallas and St. Louis still remaining. The latter two games are on the road.

That Dallas game could be make-or-break for a playoff spot and is going to be one of the biggest games remaining on the schedule.

This is a potential obstacle because the Kings play nothing but non-playoff teams the rest of the way, while Dallas also has games