Chirps from Center Ice

Week 14 of the AHL Power Rankings are here, and boy, is there some ridiculous travel coming up for some teams.

Springfield, your new number one this week, host Albany Friday then are in Hershey Saturday then have to go all the way back to Massachusetts for an afternoon home game with Norfolk.

Hershey, all of a sudden hot, are in Binghamton Friday, host the aforesaid Falcons Saturday then go all the way to Albany Sunday. Edit: No, they go to Atlantic City to play the Devils, not all the way up to the Capital District of New York. My error.

Portland is in St. John’s to start the week for two games, then return to the States for a home game Friday, then two road games Saturday and Sunday.

Providence and Syracuse have a home and home. There’s no easy way in and out of Providence.

So yes, tough slogs ahead for some teams.

Anyway, your highest climbers this week are Adirondack, Charlotte and Oklahoma City, up seven spots this week. The biggest drops belong to Albany and Adirondack, both down eight.

If you didn’t link through, hit the jump to see where everyone else landed and safe travels!

Rank	Team	Last Week	Comment	This Week
1		5th (+4)	Falcons get breathing room with the stumbling Devils in the division and sit pretty with 52 points after the first weekend in January.	Home and home with ALB Tue. & Fri., @ HER Sat., Host NOR Sun.
2		No change.	Host the Heat this Friday for first place in the West, something seemingly unattainable a few weeks ago.	Host ABB Fri., UTI Sat.
3		No change.	Remain in the East Division discussion with a sweep of the Sound Tigers at home.	@ POR Fri., WOR Sat., SPR Sun.
4		8th (+4)	Split this weekend, but overall a positive week beating the Griffins outdoors and in for the North Division leading Marlies.	@ STJ Fri. & Sat.
5		4th (-1)	Three of six points for the Monarchs, but may never give up another goal again as Martin Jones was assigned by parent Los Angeles Sunday afternoon.	Host BRI Fri., @ ALB Sat., PRO Sun.
6		11th (+5)	Dogs go to B.C. and sweep the highflying Heat. Three back of leader Toronto.	Home and home with RCH Fri. & Sat., Host IA Sun.
7		9th (+2)	Still lead the division by one. Beat by the Penguins Sunday.	@ RCH Wed., Host HER Fri., ADK Sat.
8		12th (+4)	4 of 6 points this weekend for Wilkes-Barre. Not the best effort Saturday vs. Manchester, or else they’d be leading the East.	Host SYR Wed., @ ADK Fri., Host HFD Sat.
9		1st (-8)	Three game losing streak, losing touch with division leader Springfield, with Adirondack closing fast.	Home and home with SPR Tue. & Fri., Host MCH Sat., HER Sun.
10		17th (+7)	Four game winning streak for the Phantoms, who won’t go away or, let the opponent score any goals. Back-to-back shutouts this weekend.	Host WBS Fri., @ BNG Sat.
11		15th (+4)	Monsters sweep the Admirals at home. There was even a goalie fight!	@ RFD Fri. & Sat., @ MIL Sun.
12		18th (+6)	All of a sudden the Big Bear Machine is warming up. Bears score 11 goals this weekend, six were on the power play.	@ BNG Fri., Host SPR Sat., @ ALB Sun.
13		7th (-6)	Disappointing week for the Griffs, who were beat outdoors by the Marlies and lost 3 of 4.	Host RFD Wed., IA Fri. & Sat.
14		6th (-8)	Once healthy division lead has been trimmed to one for the Heat, thanks to being swept this weekend by the Bulldogs.	@ SA Tue., TEX Fri., SA Sat.
15		19th (+4)	Aggregate 11-2 this weekend over Worcester, tough loss to Springfield in between.	Home and home with SYR Fri. & Sat., Host MCH Sun.
16		10th (-6)	IceCaps open eight game homestand with win vs. Portland.	Host POR Mon. & Tue., TOR Fri. & Sat.
17		21st (+4)	Wolves emerging as serious threats on Grand Rapids division lead.	@ MIL Sat.
18		25th (+7)	Checkers win 2 of 3 this week. Two winnable games this week with the Barons.	@ OKC Fri. & Sat.
19		16th (-3)	A shootout win / loss for the Wild this weekend.	@ MIL Mon., GR Fri. & Sat., HAM Sun.
20		14th (-6)	Admirals now surpassed by the Wolves for second in the division after being swept in Cleveland.	Host IA Mon., CHI Sat., LE Sun.
21		23rd (+2)	Maybe a bit of jet lag for the Amerks Saturday in Hershey? Lost 5-1 after coming back from overseas playing in the Spengler Cup.	Host BNG Wed., Home and home with HAM Fri. & Sat.
22		13th (-9)	Pirates toiling in Davy Jones’ locker (bottom of the Atlantic (division)) at the start of 2014.	@ STJ Mon. & Tue., Host NOR Fri., @ BRI Sat., WOR Sun.
23		30th (+7)	Barons open a 7 game home stand up with a win vs. the Rampage. Are they picking themselves up off the mat here, or?	Host UTI Wed., CHA Fri. & Sat.
24		No change.	Just one win this week for the IceHogs. I’m still waiting for this team to turn it around.	@ GR Wed., Host LE Fri. & Sat.
25		20th (-5)	Swept this weekend in Norfolk. Have only won 2 of 7.	@ MCH Fri., Host POR Sat., HFD Sun.
26		No change.	The Sharks have not beaten the P-Bruins this season. They lost this weekend to Providence by a total of 11 goals to 2, including a shutout Friday.	Host HFD Fri., NOR Sat., POR Sun.
27		22nd (-5)	Comets starting to sputter again, winners of just 1 of 5.	@ OKC Wed., TEX Sat.
28		27th (-1)	Crunch were in it late Saturday vs. Bingo. Seems like a faulty connection of “they’re on / they’re off”	@ WBS Wed., Home and home with PRO Fri. & Sat.
29		28th (-1)	Pack’s woes continue. A shootout loss to the Penguins then a narrow loss to the Sharks.	@ WOR Fri., WBS Sat., BRI Sun.
30		29th (-1)	Rampage cough up a lead late Saturday vs. the Barons. Are last in the flimsy West Division.	Host ABB Tue. & Sat.

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Please, tell me I am wrong with where I rank your team. No, really. Leave a comment.