Yesterday we broke down the Western Conference Calder Cup Playoffs. Today, we examine the teams in the Eastern Conference and their chances of a Calder Cup Celebration in June.
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Binghamton Senators
Record: 42-30-3-5 92 pts., 5th Place East Division (East’s Crossover team)
Power Play: 1st // 22.8%
Penalty Kill: 7th // 84.5%
Top 3 Scorers: Corey Locke (69 GP, 21-65-86, +13), Jim O’Brien (74 GP, 24-32-56, +17), Andre Benoit (73 GP, 11-44-55, +2)
Overview: Binghamton is back in the playoffs for the first time since 2005. Got help from parent Ottawa on Sunday in the form of eight players. League’s best power play unit for a good chunk of the season too.
First Round Matchup: Manchester Monarchs
Record against the Monarchs: 1-1
Head to Head: January 15: MCH 4 @ BNG 3 – January 22: BNG 4 @ MCH 2
Odds to win the Calder Cup: 7:1
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Charlotte Checkers
Record: 44-27-2-7 97pts., 3rd Place East Division
Power Play: 3rd // 21%
Penalty Kill: 9th // 83.5%
Top 3 Scorers: Zach Boychuk (60 GP, 22-43-65, +4), Chris Terry (80 GP, 34-30-64, -4), Jacob Micflikier (78 GP, 29-32-61, +15)
Overview: Last years Albany River Rats migrated to Charlotte and became the Checkers. Probably the deepest team line wise, all four legitimate scoring threats.
First Round Matchup: Hershey Bears
Record against the Bears: 4-3-0-1
Head to Head: November 7: HER 2 @ CHA 4 – November 9: HER 5 @ CHA 2 – November 28: CHA 5 @ HER 2 – December 10: HER 2 @ CHA 1 (SO) – December 12: HER 3 @ CHA 5 – December 19: CHA 3 @ HER 6 – January 29: CHA 0 @ HER 1 – February 20: CHA 5 @ HER 0
Odds to win the Calder Cup: 12:1
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Connecticut Whale
Record: 40-32-2-6 88 pts., 3rd place Atlantic Division
Power Play: 11th // 19.3%
Penalty Kill: 14th // 82.4%
Top 3 Scorers: Kris Newbury (69 GP, 17-44-61, +4), Jeremy Williams (75 GP, 32-23-55, +2), Brodie Dupont (72 GP, 14-31-45, -5)
Overview: The Whale came from out of the basement of the Atlantic Division to start the year to division contenders. Also the highest penalized team in the AHL.
First Round Matchup: Portland Pirates
Record against the Pirates: 5-3
Head to Head: December 29: POR 1 @ CT 2 (OT) – December 31: CT 5 @ POR 4 (OT) – January 14: CT 0 @ POR 3 – January 29: POR 3 @ CT 2 – February 5: CT 4 @ POR 3 – February 6: POR 3 @ CT 2 – February 21: CT 2 @ POR 1 (OT) – April 3: POR 2 @ CT 4
Odds to win the Calder Cup: 13:1
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Hershey Bears
Record: 46-26-3-5 100 pts., 2nd Place East Division
Power Play: 17th // 18.1%
Penalty Kill: 10th // 83.2%
Top 3 Scorers: Keith Aucoin (53 GP, 18-54-72, +13), Brian Willsie (76 GP, 30-38-68, +27), Kyle Greentree (74 GP, 30-33-63, +20)
Overview: The back to back Calder Cup Champs stayed on the WBS Penguins heels all season despite missing huge contributors to what got them Calder Cup banners ten and eleven.
First Round Matchup: Charlotte Checkers
Record against the Checkers: 4-4
Head to Head: November 7: HER 2 @ CHA 4 – November 9: HER 5 @ CHA 2 – November 28: CHA 5 @ HER 2 – December 10: HER 2 @ CHA 1 (SO) – December 12: HER 3 @ CHA 5 – December 19: CHA 3 @ HER 6 – January 29: CHA 0 @ HER 1 – February 20: CHA 5 @ HER 0
Odds to win the Calder Cup: 6:1
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Manchester Monarchs
Record: 44-26-4-6 98 pts., 2nd place Atlantic Division
Power Play: 16th // 18.5%
Penalty Kill: 4th // 85.2%
Top 3 Scorers: Bud Holloway (78 GP, 28-33-61, +8), Justin Azevedo (79 GP, 18-35-53, +6), Dwight King (72 GP, 24-28-52, +12)
Overview: The Monarchs were locked in a battle with the Portland Pirates all season long for tops in the Atlantic. They return much of the core that lost to the Hershey Bears in the Conference Finals last year.
First Round Matchup: Binghamton Senators (East Division Crossover)
Record against the Senators: 1-1
Head to Head: January 15: MCH 4 @ BNG 3 – January 22: BNG 4 @ MCH 2
Odds to win the Calder Cup: 10:1
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Norfolk Admirals
Record: 39-26-9-6 93 pts., 4th Place East Division
Power Play: 9th // 19.3%
Penalty Kill: 18th // 81.4%
Top 3 Scorers: Marc-Antoine Pouliot (69 GP, 25-47-72, +13), Blair Jones (56 GP, 24-31-55, +17), Johan Harju (63 GP, 23-30-53, +15)
Overview: Admirals are back in the playoffs after a long hiatus. Skidded into the playoffs having lost 7 of their last 10 games. Unlikely that goaltender Cedrick Desjardins will be available for the first round series.
First Round Matchup: Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins
Record against the Penguins: 3-3-0-2
Head to Head: Head to Head: November 19: NOR 4 @ WBS 1 – December 10: WBS 2 @ NOR 4 – December 11: NOR 7 @ WBS 4 – January 1: NOR 3 @ WBS 4 – February 18: WBS 3 @ NOR 0 – February 19: WBS 2 @ NOR 1 (SO) – February 26: NOR 2 @ WBS 3 (SO) – March 30: WBS 4 @ NOR 3
Odds to win the Calder Cup: 50:1
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Portland Pirates
Record: 47-27-7-2 103 pts., 1st place Atlantic Division
Power Play: 13th // 18.8%
Penalty Kill: 16th // 82.3%
Top 3 Scorers: Mark Mancari* (56 GP, 32-32-64, +19), Luke Adam (57 GP, 29-33-62, +18), Marc-Andre Gragnani* (63 GP, 12-48-60, +22)
Overview: Portland clinched the Atlantic on the second to last day of the season. They boasted an impressive 25-8-6-1 record at the Cumberland County Civic Center.
First Round Matchup: Connecticut Whale
Record against the Whale: 3-2-3-0
Head to Head: December 29: POR 1 @ CT 2 (OT) – December 31: CT 5 @ POR 4 (OT) – January 14: CT 0 @ POR 3 – January 29: POR 3 @ CT 2 – February 5: CT 4 @ POR 3 – February 6: POR 3 @ CT 2 – February 21: CT 2 @ POR 1 (OT) – April 3: POR 2 @ CT 4
Odds to win the Calder Cup: 7:1
* – currently on recall to parent Buffalo Sabres
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Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins
Record: 58-21-0-1 117 pts., 1st place East Division
Power Play: 19th // 17.3%
Penalty Kill: 8th // 83.6%
Top 3 Scorers: Brett Sterling (65 GP, 27-26-53, +13), Ryan Craig (71 GP, 19-29-53, +6), Dustin Jeffrey* (40 GP, 17-28-45, +13)
Overview: Pens loaded up with offseason signings and didn’t disappoint. Led East wire to wire and set all time record for wins in a season with 58 (good for second all time in the 75 year history of the AHL)
First Round Matchup: Norfolk Admirals:
Record against the Admirals: 5-3
Head to Head: November 19: NOR 4 @ WBS 1 – December 10: WBS 2 @ NOR 4 – December 11: NOR 7 @ WBS 4 – January 1: NOR 3 @ WBS 4 – February 18: WBS 3 @ NOR 0 – February 19: WBS 2 @ NOR 1 (SO) – February 26: NOR 2 @ WBS 3 (SO) – March 30: WBS 4 @ NOR 3
Odds to win the Calder Cup: 4:1
* – currently on recall to parent Pittsburgh Penguins and out for the season with a knee injury
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So there you have it. The Gameday Preview for tomorrow’s game vs. Norfolk will be up around 2 pm Friday afternoon.
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