from Kevin Allen of USA TODAY,
Two days after Thanksgiving, some high-profile teams and expected playoff qualifiers on the outside looking in. Our projections on which teams currently out of a playoff spot on Saturday morning have the best shot of qualifying by season’s end:
Feel free to print playoff tickets- New York Rangers: This fast, fascinating team was in the Stanley Cup Final five months ago. Ryan McDonagh is healthy again and Henrik Lundqvist can push a team over the top. They will make it.
No reason to panic- San Jose Sharks and Minnesota Wild: The Wild have one of the NHL’s best goal differentials, and the Sharks have one of the NHL’s more dangerous offenses. The Sharks didn’t seem to do enough in the offseason.
Don’t count them out- Dallas Stars and Florida Panthers: Valeri Nichushkin’s injury and Ales Hemsky’s lack of production has hurt the Stars, but this is a team capable of getting on a roll.
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