1. The Case for the Minnesota Wild
One thing the Minnesota Wild has going for them is their light schedule. Before their matchup against the Vegas Golden Knights on March 30, the Wild will play against non-playoff opponents in five of their next six games. That includes a pair of games against both the Anaheim Ducks and St. Louis Blues. Now that's light like a feather.
Although the schedule ramps up with teams like the Colorado Avalanche, the Golden Knights (again), and the Winnipeg Jets, Minnesota's upcoming slate offers an opportunity to build momentum.
The Wild is also a relatively healthy team, with only defenseman Jared Spurgeon being on LTIR. With their forward depth led by Kirill Kaprizov, it's easy to see the Wild making a solid run to jump back into the playoff race. That means the Golden Knights must step up against the competition to avoid a potential collapse.