There used to be a saying around the American Hockey League that the East Division was the best division where hockey is played.
No more.
The Northeast Division is the best division in the AHL. With all five teams in the top eight in the Eastern Conference, all five teams are in the top nine in the Week 12 Chirps from Center Ice AHL Power Rankings.
But, there is a team out in Oklahoma City that is tops this week and a team in Utica that is tops overall.
With respect to the East Division, there is a team that the Politboro finds to be the most complete team. It isn’t Wilkes-Barre or Hershey, so you’ll need to hop through the jump to see who and to see where all the other teams ended up this week.
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| Barons continue to set a torrid pace in the West Division and continue to separate themselves from San Antonio. Lead is now seven points over the Rampage. |
Rank: 1
Last Week: 3rd
Change: Up 2 |
Last Week:
OKC 2 @ SA 1 (OT)
CHA 1 @ OKC 2 (OT) |
This Week:
vs. CHA 12/31
@ LE 1/2
@ LE 1/3 |
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| Springfield works overtime this weekend and takes 5 of 6 points. Small amount of breathing room here over Syracuse. |
Rank: 2
Last Week: 4th
Change: Up 2 |
Last Week:
SPR 2 @ HFD 1 (SO)
SPR 3 @ ALB 4 (OT)
SYR 2 @ SPR 3 (OT) |
This Week:
@ POR 1/2
vs. WOR 1/3
vs. MCH 1/4 |
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| Utica is slowly becoming a force that needs reckoned with. Best team in the AHL points wise heading into New Years week. |
Rank: 3
Last Week: 5th
Change: Up 2 |
Last Week:
ADK 1 @ UTI 2
LE 3 @ UTI 6 |
This Week:
vs. SA 1/1
@ ADK 1/2
vs. IA 1/3 |
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| Monarchs worked overtime on Friday and Saturday and it finally caught up to them Sunday, getting shutout at home by Portland. |
Rank: 4
Last Week: 1st
Change: Down 3 |
Last Week:
MCH 5 @ WOR 4 (SO)
PRO 2 @ MCH 3 (OT)
POR 3 @ MCH 0 |
This Week:
vs. STJ 12/31
@ WOR 1/2
@ SPR 1/4 |
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| I saw someone on Twitter call Saturday’s game against Worcester a trap game for the Crunch. It certainly was, because it ended the ten game winning streak for Syracuse. Crunch then turn around the next night and lose in overtime. |
Rank: 5
Last Week: 2nd
Change: Down 3 |
Last Week:
ALB 2 @ SYR 3 (OT)
WOR 4 @ SYR 2
SYR 2 @ SPR 3 (OT) |
This Week:
@ RCH 12/31
@ ALB 1/2
@ BNG 1/3 |
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| IceHogs explode for three goals in 3:05 Sunday against Chicago and it’s enough to allow separation between them and the Wolves for the division lead. |
Rank: 6
Last Week: 13th
Change: Up 7 |
Last Week:
IA 2 @ RFD 1
CHI 2 @ RFD 4 |
This Week:
vs. HAM 12/30
@ GR 12/31
@ CHI 1/3 |
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| Wolf Pack take three of four points this weekend to keep up the pace in the ever competitive Northeast Division. |
Rank: 7
Last Week: 7th
Change: n/a |
Last Week:
SPR 2 @ HFD 1 (SO)
POR 1 @ HFD 3 |
This Week:
@ POR 12/31
vs. STJ 1/2
vs. STJ 1/3 |
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| One of the objects of the game of ice hockey is to not allow your opponent to score any goals. Bridgeport got the message loud and clear this weekend, shutting out the P-Bruins at home and the Penguins on the road with two different goaltenders, Kevin Poulin and David Leggio, respectively. |
Rank: 8
Last Week: 23rd
Change: Up 15 |
Last Week:
PRO 0 @ BRI 2
BRI 5 @ WBS 0 |
This Week:
@ WOR 12/30
@ PRO 1/2
vs. ALB 1/3
vs. ALB 1/4 |
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| Devils take points in all games this weekend to stay above the cut line in the Conference. |
Rank: 9
Last Week: 16th
Change: Up 7 |
Last Week:
ALB 2 @ SYR 3 (OT)
SPR 3 @ ALB 4 (OT) |
This Week:
vs. PRO 12/30
vs. SYR 1/2
@ BRI 1/3
@ BRI 1/4 |
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| Penguins manage to maintain a four point lead over the rest of the East Division with 10+ members on the team recalled to parent Pittsburgh. Big week ahead for Wilkes-Barre with two dates against the rival Bears. |
Rank: 10
Last Week: 6th
Change: Down 4 |
Last Week:
WBS 0 @ BNG 3
BRI 5 @ WBS 0
NOR 1 @ WBS 2 |
This Week:
vs. HER 12/31
vs. BNG 1/2
@ HER 1/3 |
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| Bears let a golden opportunity slip away late Saturday allowing Binghamton back into the game and then ultimately losing in overtime. Four back of the depleted division leading Penguins. |
Rank: 11
Last Week: 18th
Change: Up 7 |
Last Week:
LV 2 @ HER 4
BNG 4 @ HER 3 (OT) |
This Week:
vs. NOR 12/30
@ WBS 12/31
vs. WBS 1/3 |
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| The Chicago Wolves delivered a lump of coal to the Griffins last Monday and Grand Rapids took it out on sorry Iowa, pounding the Wild with nine goals. |
Rank: 12
Last Week: 15th
Change: Up 3 |
Last Week:
GR 3 @ CHI 5
IA 2 @ GR 9 |
This Week:
@ CHI 12/30
vs. RFD 12/31
vs. MIL 1/2 |
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| Three games, three wins for the Marlies. Shutouts bookend the perfect weekend. |
Rank: 13
Last Week: 27th
Change: Up 14 |
Last Week:
HAM 0 @ TOR 4
TOR 3 @ RCH 2
ADK 0 @ TOR 2 |
This Week:
@ ADK 12/31
vs. SA 1/2
vs. SA 1/3 |
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| Binghamton ends its four game losing streak with a shutout win against the Penguins and a gritty, gutty overtime win against the Bears. B-Sens are only four back of the Bears and eight back of the Penguins. |
Rank: 14
Last Week: 29th
Change: Up 15 |
Last Week:
WBS 0 @ BNG 3
BNG 4 @ HER 3 (OT) |
This Week:
vs. LV 12/31
@ WBS 1/2
vs. SYR 1/3 |
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| Phantoms aren’t quite ready to be in the discussion for division leaders yet, although they are dangerously close and probably the most complete team in the East Division. |
Rank: 15
Last Week: 9th
Change: Down 6 |
Last Week:
LV 2 @ HER 4
NOR 2 @ LV 3 (SO) |
This Week:
@ BNG 12/31
@ NOR 1/2
@ NOR 1/3 |
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| Bruins shutout by the Sound Tigers Friday and lost to Manchester Saturday in overtime. Busy week this week for Providence. |
Rank: 16
Last Week: 10th
Change: Down 6 |
Last Week:
PRO 0 @ BRI 2
PRO 2 @ MCH 3 (OT) |
This Week:
@ ALB 12/30
vs. BRI 1/2
@ POR 1/3
vs. WOR 1/4 |
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| Pirates probably caught a tired Manchester team Sunday and took advantage. Tied now with Providence for second in the Atlantic. |
Rank: 17
Last Week: 20th
Change: Up 3 |
Last Week:
POR 1 @ HFD 3
POR 3 @ MCH 0 |
This Week:
vs. HFD 12/31
vs. SPR 1/2
vs. PRO 1/3 |
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| Bulldogs shutout this weekend. That obviously doesn’t help a team battling for playoff positioning. |
Rank: 18
Last Week: 8th
Change: Down 10 |
Last Week:
HAM 0 @ TOR 4
ADK 5 @ HAM 0 |
This Week:
@ RFD 12/30
@ CHI 1/2
@ MIL 1/3 |
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| San Antonio stumbles a bit this week with an overtime loss to the team they are pursuing and a bad loss to a team below them in Texas. |
Rank: 19
Last Week: 11th
Change: Down 8 |
Last Week:
TEX 3 @ SA 7
OKC 2 @ SA 1 (OT)
SA 3 @ TEX 6 |
This Week:
@ UTI 1/1
@ TOR 1/2
@ TOR 1/3 |
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| Flames are going through a dry spell that they must fight through in order to keep up with the pace that Utica is setting. Ugly shutout loss Sunday against the Marlies. |
Rank: 20
Last Week: 12th
Change: Down 8 |
Last Week:
ADK 1 @ UTI 2
ADK 5 @ HAM 0
ADK 0 @ TOR 2 |
This Week:
vs. TOR 12/31
vs. UTI 1/2
vs. RCH 1/3 |
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| Wolves would have been one back of the division leading IceHogs with a win Sunday in Rockford, but instead three goals in 3:05 of the second period ensured that didn’t happen. |
Rank: 21
Last Week: 19th
Change: Down 2 |
Last Week:
GR 3 @ CHI 5
CHI 6 @ MIL 2
CHI 2 @ RFD 4 |
This Week:
vs. GR 12/30
vs. HAM 1/2
vs. RFD 1/3 |
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| Stars close to three points behind San Antonio for second place in the West Division with the 6-3 win Sunday. Is Texas finally shaking off the Calder Cup hangover? |
Rank: 22
Last Week: 24th
Change: Up 2 |
Last Week:
TEX 3 @ SA 7
CHA 2 @ TEX 4
SA 3 @ TEX 6 |
This Week:
@ CHA 1/3
@ CHA 1/4 |
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| Worcester ends Syracuse’s ten game winning streak with an excellent effort. Busy week ahead for the Sharks. |
Rank: 23
Last Week: 28th
Change: Up 5 |
Last Week:
MCH 5 @ WOR 4 (SO)
WOR 4 @ SYR 2 |
This Week:
vs. BRI 12/30
vs. MCH 1/2
@ SPR 1/3
@ PRO 1/4 |
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| Lake Erie could have used this week to close ground on solidifying themselves as a serious playoff contender, but instead lost each game by three goals. |
Rank: 24
Last Week: 14th
Change: Down 10 |
Last Week:
LE 1 @ RCH 4
LE 3 @ UTI 6 |
This Week:
@ MIL 12/30
vs. OKC 1/2
vs. OKC 1/3 |
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| Milwaukee lost its only game of the week to Chicago, a team they are chasing down in both the division and the conference. |
Rank: 25
Last Week: 17th
Change: Down 8 |
Last Week:
CHI 6 @ MIL 2 |
This Week:
@ IA 12/29
vs. LE 12/30
@ GR 1/2
vs. HAM 1/3 |
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| While everyone else in the American Hockey League were busy beating each others brains in, the St. John’s IceCaps were at home preparing for the Manchester Monarchs and Hartford Wolf Pack this week. |
Rank: 26
Last Week: 26th
Change: n/a |
Last Week:
Did not play. |
This Week:
@ MCH 12/31
@ HFD 1/2
@ HFD 1/3 |
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| Amerks defeat the Monsters Friday and then fall to the Marlies the next night. Nice to see that the yo-yo still works in Rochester. |
Rank: 27
Last Week: 30th
Change: Up 3 |
Last Week:
LE 1 @ RCH 4
TOR 3 @ RCH 2 |
This Week:
vs. SYR 12/31
vs. IA 1/2
@ ADK 1/3 |
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| Hits keep on coming for the Checkers, who can’t seem to build anything positive. Taking a point away from the red hot Barons ought to be something, but if history is any indicator, it won’t be. |
Rank: 28
Last Week: 21st
Change: Down 7 |
Last Week:
CHA 2 @ TEX 4
CHA 1 @ OKC 2 (OT) |
This Week:
@ OKC 12/31
vs. TEX 1/3
vs. TEX 1/4 |
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| Norfolk by rights should have beat a run down Wilkes-Barre squad by multiple goals Sunday afternoon but instead lost a close one. What does it say about the make up of Norfolk? |
Rank: 29
Last Week: 22nd
Change: Down 7 |
Last Week:
NOR 2 @ LV 3 (SO)
NOR 1 @ WBS 2 |
This Week:
@ HER 12/30
vs. LV 1/2
vs. LV 1/3 |
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| I don’t even know where you begin to look at deficiencies when you lose a game by seven goals and the opposition scores nine on you. |
Rank: 30
Last Week: 25th
Change: Down 5 |
Last Week:
IA 2 @ RFD 1
IA 2 @ GR 9 |
This Week:
vs. MIL 12/29
@ RCH 1/2
@ UTI 1/3 |
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Comments are open for your remarks, if any.
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