Playoff hockey will return to Vancouver for the first time since 2013, and it’s all thanks to the Edmonton Oilers and their goaltender Richard Bachman.

The Oilers defeated the Los Angeles Kings – a team whose defense-corps has lost more steps this season than I did when Jesus was carrying me in the sand for an inspirational faith poster – 4-2 on Tuesday night, a victory that served to put that comforting little “x” beside the word “Vancouver” in the NHL standings. 

Not only did the Oilers’ victory serve to officially punch the Vancouver Canucks’ ticket to Lord Stanley’s annual festival of penalty-free hockey and randomness on Tuesday night, but their victory also made it significantly more likely that the Canucks will face the Calgary Flames in the first round. The Flames are, in some ways, a bad matchup for the Canucks because of the their speed up front, but they’re a significantly less imposing club than Los Angeles. 

As for the Kings, here’s what’s happened to their odds of qualifying for the playoffs as a result of their regulation loss on Tuesday and their shootout loss to the Canucks on Monday:

(Courtesy: sportsclubstats.com)

Absolutely glorious.

Good news all around for the Canucks on Tuesday night. So, uh, are you ready for some playoff hockey?