Regulation, overtime or shootout, it doesn’t matter. All the Kings need to do is defeat the Phoenix Coyotes on Wednesday at Staples Center and they’re in the Stanley Cup playoffs for the fifth consecutive season. The Kings have reached the Western Conference finals, won the Stanley Cup and been eliminated in the first round twice in their last four trips to the postseason.

If they don’t win Wednesday … Well, they have five regular-season games remaining after facing the Coyotes. They’re away to San Jose on Thursday, away to Vancouver on Saturday, away to Calgary on April 9 and away to Edmonton on the 10th. Their season finale is a home date with the Ducks on April 12.