The Week 24 AHL Power Rankings have a familiar face at the top of the heap this week.
No, it isn’t a Griffin or a Bear. It’s a Monarch. The Manchester Monarchs have been consistently the best team in the AHL this season and are at the top of this weeks rankings.
You remember high school, don’t you? You remember the cool kids that had the world ahead of them and could do no wrong, right? Well, today, maybe that kid that was once cool isn’t so cool anymore and is on hard times. There is a team in this weeks Rankings that the Politboro makes that inference to.
It isn’t a Penguin, Bear, Griffin or Bruin. You will need to click through the jump to find out who. Read carefully!
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| Manchester goes back to the top spot in Week 24 with a six point weekend. AHL’s best team. |
Rank: 1
Last Week: 2nd
Change: Up 1 |
Last Week:
MCH 5 @ PRO 2
STJ 1 @ MCH 2 (OT)
POR 1 @ MCH 3 |
This Week:
@ HER 3/27
@ HER 3/28
@ LV 3/29 |
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| Do not adjust your West Division standings. That is the San Antonio Rampage at the top of the division. We are interested here in how far the Rampage can go in the Calder Cup Playoffs. |
Rank: 2
Last Week: 8th
Change: Up 6 |
Last Week:
CHA 3 @ SA 9
SA 4 @ OKC 3 (OT)
HAM 2 @ SA 4
HAM 2 @ SA 3 (OT) |
This Week:
@ MIL 3/25
@ IA 3/27
@ IA 3/28 |
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| Comets regain the top spot in the West. We want to see the Comets play real competition, though. |
Rank: 3
Last Week: 5th
Change: Up 2 |
Last Week:
RCH 2 @ UTI 4
UTI 4 @ SYR 2
UTI 4 @ RCH 1 |
This Week:
vs. OKC 3/27
vs. RFD 3/28 |
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| Took this New England road trip and made it count. Gutted out wins against some really good teams. May have cemented the East Division crown. |
Rank: 4
Last Week: 9th
Change: Up 5 |
Last Week:
HER 3 @ WOR 2
HER 3 @ POR 2 (OT)
HER 4 @ POR 3 (OT) |
This Week:
vs. MCH 3/27
vs. MCH 3/28
@ BRI 3/29 |
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| We said that Syracuse won’t make playoffs. We may need to retract that statement after a four point weekend and a seven point lead over second place Hartford. |
Rank: 5
Last Week: 10th
Change: Up 5 |
Last Week:
WBS 1 @ SYR 2 (OT)
UTI 4 @ SYR 2
SYR 4 @ SPR 1 |
This Week:
@ LV 3/25
vs. BRI 3/27
vs. RCH 3/28 |
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| Winning streak ends to the Monsters and then a new losing streak begins with an embarrassing setback by the Flames Sunday. Grand Rapids heads to Texas for a pair this weekend. |
Rank: 6
Last Week: 1st
Change: Down 5 |
Last Week:
MIL 1 @ GR 3
GR 3 @ LE 4
ADK 4 @ GR 1 |
This Week:
@ TEX 3/27
@ TEX 3/28 |
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| Rockford took six points this week to close the gap to Grand Rapids to three for the Midwest Division lead. |
Rank: 7
Last Week: 11th
Change: Up 4 |
Last Week:
ADK 3 @ RFD 4 (SO)
ADK 0 @ RFD 4
TEX 3 @ RFD 4 |
This Week:
vs. LE 3/25
@ ADK 3/27
@ UTI 3/28 |
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| Texas is getting hot at the right time. Probably won’t catch San Antonio for the division crown, but are making their case that they are the defending Calder Cup Champions and want to stay that way until you take that away from them. |
Rank: 8
Last Week: 13th
Change: Up 5 |
Last Week:
LE 2 @ TEX 3 (SO)
TEX 3 @ CHI 0
TEX 4 @ MIL 3
TEX 3 @ RFD 4 |
This Week:
@ IA 3/24
vs. GR 3/27
vs. GR 3/28 |
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| Nice bounce back win Sunday in Allentown for the Penguins with Matt Murray’s record breaking 10th AHL shutout for rookies. Division crown still isn’t out of the picture. Two games this week that are rematches of this weekends action. |
Rank: 9
Last Week: 6th
Change: Down 3 |
Last Week:
WBS 1 @ SYR 2 (OT)
BNG 4 @ WBS 3
WBS 3 @ LV 0 |
This Week:
@ BNG 3/27
@ LV 3/28 |
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| Lost two close ones against Hershey then got smoked in Manchester Sunday. Pirates will probably make playoffs, but could be one and done. |
Rank: 10
Last Week: 3rd
Change: Down 7 |
Last Week:
HER 3 @ POR 2 (OT)
HER 4 @ POR 3 (OT)
POR 1 @ MCH 3 |
This Week:
vs. STJ 3/25
vs. STJ 3/27
vs. PRO 3/28 |
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| Sharks remain in catbird seat with a four point weekend. Still have games in hand on all playoff contenders. |
Rank: 11
Last Week: 17th
Change: Up 6 |
Last Week:
HER 3 @ WOR 2
STJ 1 @ WOR 3
LV 1 @ WOR 6 |
This Week:
@ SPR 3/27
vs. STJ 3/28
vs. SPR 3/29 |
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| Up 2-0 in the third period vs. St. John’s and lost 3-2. Was it fatigue? Was it something else? P-Bruins still have work to do. |
Rank: 12
Last Week: 4th
Change: Down 8 |
Last Week:
MCH 5 @ PRO 2
PRO 3 @ BRI 2
STJ 3 @ PRO 2 |
This Week:
@ HFD 3/27
@ POR 3/28 |
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| Oklahoma City’s once unattainable lead in the West Division is now a thing of the past. two points out of a possible eight while San Antonio continues its tear. |
Rank: 13
Last Week: 7th
Change: Down 6 |
Last Week:
MIL 4 @ OKC 2
SA 4 @ OKC 3 (OT)
CHI 2 @ OKC 1 (OT)
CHI 4 @ OKC 1 |
This Week:
@ TOR 3/25
@ UTI 3/27
@ ADK 3/28 |
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| Wolf Pack may not catch the Crunch for the Northeast Division crown but could end up with home ice through the first round of the playoffs. Games in hand on the P-Bruins and Penguins who sit ahead of Hartford in the Eastern Conference pecking order. |
Rank: 14
Last Week: 12th
Change: Down 2 |
Last Week:
LV 2 @ HFD 3
HFD 1 @ SPR 2 (SO)
HFD 3 @ ALB 5 |
This Week:
vs. PRO 3/27
@ SPR 3/28 |
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| Devils are not dead yet. Two more this week with the hapless Admirals. Need to pick up and take home all four points there. |
Rank: 15
Last Week: 15th
Change: n/a |
Last Week:
NOR 1 @ ALB 0
NOR 3 @ ALB 4
HFD 3 @ ALB 5 |
This Week:
@ NOR 3/27
@ NOR 3/28 |
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| Lake Erie took loser points out of games against Texas and Toronto and stopped the Griffins run, but you need max points if you are on the outside looking in like the Monsters are. |
Rank: 16
Last Week: 16th
Change: n/a |
Last Week:
LE 2 @ TEX 3 (SO)
LE 1 @ TOR 2 (OT)
GR 3 @ LE 4 |
This Week:
@ RFD 3/25
@ CHA 3/27
@ CHA 3/29 |
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| Marlies are two points out of a playoff spot. They could be in the discussion as soon as this weekend. |
Rank: 17
Last Week: 23rd
Change: Up 6 |
Last Week:
LE 1 @ TOR 2 (OT)
RCH 1 @ TOR 4 |
This Week:
vs. OKC 3/25
vs. HAM 3/28
@ RCH 3/29 |
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| Nice gritty come back win for the IceCaps in the third period in Providence. Road trip continues for St. John’s in Portland and Worcester this week. |
Rank: 18
Last Week: 18th
Change: n/a |
Last Week:
STJ 1 @ WOR 3
STJ 1 @ MCH 2 (OT)
STJ 3 @ PRO 2 |
This Week:
@ POR 3/25
@ POR 3/27
@ WOR 3/28 |
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| Things were looking bright for the Bulldogs a few weeks ago but now have gone cold. Hamilton will need to figure it out on the road this week. |
Rank: 19
Last Week: 14th
Change: Down 5 |
Last Week:
HAM 2 @ SA 4
HAM 2 @ SA 3 (OT) |
This Week:
@ ADK 3/25
@ RCH 3/27
@ TOR 3/28 |
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| Two big wins in Oklahoma City this week may have saved the Wolves chances at playoffs. |
Rank: 20
Last Week: 26th
Change: Up 6 |
Last Week:
TEX 3 @ CHI 0
CHI 2 @ OKC 1 (OT)
CHI 4 @ OKC 1 |
This Week:
@ MIL 3/27
vs. MIL 3/28
vs. IA 3/29 |
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| Blown out by the white hot Rampage then sweep the Wild, who have been as sorry as the Checkers have been all season long. |
Rank: 21
Last Week: 20th
Change: Down 1 |
Last Week:
CHA 3 @ SA 9
CHA 3 @ IA 2
CHA 4 @ IA 2 |
This Week:
@ NOR 3/25
vs. LE 3/27
vs. LE 3/29 |
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| Coming down to the wire in Milwaukee, who are playoff regulars. Just two points this weekend. A small three point cushion back to Adirondack in the eight seed, but those cushions can deflate quickly. |
Rank: 22
Last Week: 19th
Change: Down 3 |
Last Week:
MIL 4 @ OKC 2
MIL 1 @ GR 3
TEX 4 @ MIL 3 |
This Week:
vs. SA 3/25
vs. CHI 3/27
@ CHI 3/28 |
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| Playing out the string in Bridgeport, looking to play upset to playoff teams. |
Rank: 23
Last Week: 29th
Change: Up 6 |
Last Week:
BRI 3 @ SPR 1
PRO 3 @ BRI 2
BNG 1 @ BRI 7 |
This Week:
@ SYR 3/27
@ BNG 3/28
vs. HER 3/29 |
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| Binghamton plays fast and loose. This is explained by a win in Wilkes-Barre Saturday and a blowout loss in Bridgeport Sunday. The Penguins aren’t like that but the Sound Tigers are and were ready. |
Rank: 24
Last Week: 25th
Change: Up 1 |
Last Week:
NOR 3 @ BNG 4
BNG 4 @ WBS 3
BNG 1 @ BRI 7 |
This Week:
vs. WBS 3/27
vs. BRI 3/28 |
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| Springfield is like the cool kid in high school that ran into problems in college and after and is now bumming nickels off you on the street corner. That’s a harsh comparison, I know, but the only one the Politburo can think of regarding how far the Falcons have fallen. |
Rank: 25
Last Week: 20th
Change: Down 5 |
Last Week:
BRI 3 @ SPR 1
HFD 1 @ SPR 2 (SO)
SYR 4 @ SPR 1 |
This Week:
vs. WOR 3/27
vs. HFD 3/28
@ WOR 3/29 |
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| Flames are slowly fading, now at the eight spot in the West. That win Sunday in Grand Rapids may have stopped the free fall. Will have to see this week with some tough opponents. |
Rank: 26
Last Week: 24th
Change: Down 2 |
Last Week:
ADK 3 @ RFD 4 (SO)
ADK 0 @ RFD 4
ADK 4 @ GR 1 |
This Week:
vs. HAM 3/25
vs. RFD 3/27
vs. OKC 3/28 |
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| The season can’t end soon enough for Rochester. Buffalo is tanking for McDavid and it’s indirect toll is being taken on the Amerks, who are the door mat of the North Division. |
Rank: 27
Last Week: 22nd
Change: Down 5 |
Last Week:
RCH 2 @ UTI 4
RCH 1 @ TOR 4
UTI 4 @ RCH 1 |
This Week:
vs. HAM 3/27
@ SYR 3/28
vs. TOR 3/29 |
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| Admirals were in close games this week and came out on the short end in two of three of them. They are another team that will look to play spoiler in the final month of the season. |
Rank: 28
Last Week: 30th
Change: Up 2 |
Last Week:
NOR 1 @ ALB 0
NOR 3 @ BNG 4
NOR 3 @ ALB 4 |
This Week:
vs. CHA 3/25
vs. ALB 3/27
vs. ALB 3/28 |
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| Here’s what the Politburo had written Friday afternoon:”If the Phantoms want to make a run at playoffs, they will do so at the expense of East Division opponents. That’s all that is left on the schedule for the Phantoms.”
Forget it. Phantoms lost all three games this weekend and are all but donezo as serious playoff contenders. Best that Lehigh Valley can do is play spoiler. |
Rank: 29
Last Week: 28th
Change: Down 1 |
Last Week:
LV 2 @ HFD 3
LV 1 @ WOR 6
WBS 3 @ LV 0 |
This Week:
vs. SYR 3/25
vs. WBS 3/28
vs. MCH 3/29 |
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| Swept by the Checkers this weekend at home. Season never got off the ground for the Wild. |
Rank: 30
Last Week: 27th
Change: Down 3 |
Last Week:
CHA 3 @ IA 2
CHA 4 @ IA 2 |
This Week:
vs. TEX 3/24
vs. SA 3/27
vs. SA 3/28
@ CHI 3/29 |
Comments are open for your thoughts.
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