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The Noise: Dark horses shuffling the playoff picture

Jayne Kamin-Oncea / USA Today Sports

theScore's new series, "The Noise," is published every Monday. It kicks off each week with a quick look at three teams or players making headlines, good or bad.

Atlantic outlook

How quickly things can change.

Once believed to be a formality, the Atlantic is now far from settled, thanks in large part to a pair of reborn teams.

The Florida Panthers are healthy now, and have consequently won four in a row, including an ultra-rare three-game California sweep. With 64 points, the Panthers are restoring hope to what was thought to be a lost season.

Elsewhere, after a not-so popular coaching change, the Boston Bruins seem to have found an identity. The B's are a perfect 4-0 under Bruce Cassidy, surging into contention for the division title.

Montreal's advantageous division lead has shrunk to just two points, and seeds two through five are within four points of each other. This one's far from settled.

Watch those Rangers, Metro

It's hard to label a team with the fifth-most points in the NHL as a "dark horse," but that's the impression surrounding the New York Rangers.

Thanks to a flawed playoff format, the Blueshirts, as it stands right now, would start the postseason on the road, despite having more points than any potential Atlantic opponent.

In saying that, a 7-3 run over their last 10 has the Rangers just two points back of the Blue Jackets, and three back of the Penguins.

They've flown under the radar in an absolutely stacked field, but the Rangers are quickly trending toward shaking up seeding in the best division in hockey.

Calder clash

As gripping as the playoff race is, and will become, the sprint to the Calder Trophy is set to be quite a ride.

Matching the precedent they've set all season long, top-two draft picks Auston Matthews and Patrik Laine are neck and neck for rookie of the year honors. Both players have scored 28 goals, while Laine has an extra three assists.

The play of Matthews and Laine has been integral to their respective club's involvement in the playoff race, and a postseason berth might be the deciding factor in one of the best Calder competition's the league has ever seen.

Oh, and they play each other Tuesday, in an absolutely crucial game for both teams.

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