Chirps from Center Ice

Welcome back to the Calder Cup Playoff Previews! Yesterday, I previewed the Western Conference. Today, we return to more familiar territory in the Eastern Conference. Here are the capsules for the teams that made it.

Binghamton Senators

Record: 44-24-1-7 // 96 pts., 2^nd place East Division (4 seed)

Power Play: 27^th // 13.6%

Penalty Kill: 6^th // 85.6%

Top 3 Scorers: Mark Stone 15-23-38 // Stephane Da Costa 13-25-38 // Shane Prince 18-17-35

Overview: The resilient Senators stayed at the top of the East Division all season and gave in-state rival Syracuse a late run for the division title.

First Round Opponent: Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins

Record vs. the Penguins: 6-2-0-2

Odds to win Calder Cup: 20:1

Hershey Bears

Record: 36-31-3-6 // 81 pts., 4^th place East Division (8 seed)

Power Play: 11^th // 18%

Penalty Kill: 10^th // 84.2%

Top 3 Scorers: Jeff Taffe 18-53-71 // Casey Wellman 16-37-53 // Jon DiSalvatore 18-31-49

Overview: The Bears struggled all season and looked to miss the playoffs but got in on the last day.

First Round Opponent: Providence Bruins

Record vs. the Bruins: 1-1

Odds to win Calder Cup: 55:1

Manchester Monarchs

Record: 37-32-3-4 // 81 points, 3^rd place Atlantic Division (7 seed)

Power Play: 23^rd // 15%

Penalty Kill: 14^th // 83.2%

Top 3 Scorers: Linden Vey 22-45-67 // Brandon Kozun 26-30-56 // Tyler Toffoli 28-23-51

Overview: Monarchs got in on the final weekend by winning two of three and while the Connecticut Whale nosedived out.

First Round Opponent: Springfield Falcons

Record vs. the Falcons: 2-3-0-1

Odds to win Calder Cup: 45:1

Portland Pirates

Record: 71-30-3-2 // 87 pts., 2^nd place Atlantic Division (6 seed)

Power Play: 15^th // 16.6%

Penalty Kill: 20^th // 82.5%

Top 3 Scorers: Andy Miele 19-34-53 // Alexandre Bolduc* 24-27-51 // Chris Brown 29-18-47

Overview: Pirates could have caught the Penguins on the last day for the 5 seed but lost to the Bridgeport Sound Tigers on the final day of the regular season and now face the Syracuse Crunch, a team they have not played at all this season.

First Round Opponent: Syracuse Crunch

Record vs. the Crunch: Did not play.

Odds to win Calder Cup: 25:1

Providence Bruins

Record: 50-21-0-5 // 105 pts., 1^st place Atlantic Division (1 seed)

Power Play: 8^th // 18.5%

Penalty Kill: 5^th // 85.7%

Top 3 Scorers: Ryan Spooner 17-40-57 // Carter Camper 10-37-47 // Craig Cunningham 25-21-46

Overview: The P-Bruins are the only team with 50 wins, no overtime losses, and were the class of the AHL pretty much all season long.

First Round Opponent: Hershey Bears

Record vs. the Bears: 1-1

Odds to win Calder Cup: 4:1

Springfield Falcons

Record: 45-22-5-4 // 99 pts, 1st place Northeast Division (2 seed)

Power Play: 6th // 19%

Penalty Kill: 8th // 85.2%

Top 3 Scorers: Jonathan Audy-Marchessault 21-46-67 // Nick Drazenovic 17-36-53 // Ryan Craig 20-27-47

Overview: One of the highest scoring teams in the league. The Falcons boast youth and talent. Curtis McElhinney is a hell of a goaltender too. Will be a tough out.

First Round Opponent: Manchester Monarchs

Record vs. the Monarchs: 4-1-0-1

Odds to win Calder Cup: 9:1

Syracuse Crunch

Record: 43-22-6-5 // 97 pts., 1st place East Division (3 seed)

Power Play: 12th // 17.4%

Penalty Kill: 9th // 84.4%

Top 3 Scorers: Tyler Johnson 37-28-65 // Brett Connolly 31-32-63 // Ondrej Palat 13-39-52

Overview: Class of the East Division. Will be getting a cavalry back from Tampa Bay. Only caveat may be the loss of head coach Jon Cooper, who guided much of this group to a Calder Cup Championship last Spring.

First Round Opponent: Portland Pirates

Record vs. the Pirates: Did not play.

Odds to win Calder Cup: 7:1

Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins

Record: 42-30-2-2 // 88 pts., 3rd place East Division (5 seed)

Power Play: 22nd // 15.1%

Penalty Kill: 1st // 87.2%

Top 3 Scorers: Chad Kolarik 31-37-68 // Trevor Smith 23-31-54 // Riley Holzapfel 21-30-51

Overview: One of the hottest teams of late. Best penalty kill, best defense, two of the best goaltenders in the League all season long. Eleven straight playoff appearances. All that is left is that elusive Calder Cup.

First Round Opponent: Binghamton Senators

Record vs. the Senators: 4-6

Odds to win Calder Cup: 12:1

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So there you have it. I return tomorrow with the series breakdown of the Binghamton series and give my prediction.