The Kings can clinch fourth place in the Western Conference and home-ice advantage for the opening round of the playoffs with a victory Saturday night over the visiting San Jose Sharks in regulation, overtime or a shootout and a loss by the St. Louis Blues in any fashion to the Chicago Blackhawks.

What if that doesn’t happen?

Glad you asked.

There are 11 other scenarios, according to research by the Kings’ crack media relations department, including five in which the team tumbles all the way to sixth place and gets stuck playing the third-seeded Vancouver Canucks in the opening round. In fact, a regulation loss for the Kings to the Sharks would drop them to sixth, no matter what.

It’s also possible the Kings could remain in fifth place and start the postseason on the road. For instance, a regulation victory for the Kings over the Sharks  coupled with a win in any fashion for the Blues over the Blackhawks would leave the Kings in fifth, with the Blues fourth and the Sharks sixth.

Bottom line: wait and see. All will be revealed Saturday night.