Chirps from Center Ice

Here at the Chirps from Center Ice Power Rankings Politboro, if you run down and catch a team that was way out in front of you a few weeks ago, you get massive brownie points. Also, if you lead your division by a wide sum, you get much consideration.

I am talking about your Texas Stars, your new number one this week, and your Grand Rapids Griffins, who lead the Midwest Division by 10 points, the biggest margin in the AHL. The Stars overtake Abbotsford for first in the West with a win Friday against the Heat. The Heat were obliterating everything in its path a few weeks ago.

Are the Grand Rapids Griffins better than four teams in the East Division? They lead their division by 10 points and until each team plays the other in a season we may never know.

The Norfolk Admirals are the most overrated team in the Rankings this week. Hershey is on a tear. Binghamton and Wilkes-Barre have both led the East Division for weeks now, yet the Politboro says they remain third.

The aforementioned Griffins and your Syracuse Crunch are the biggest risers this week, up 8 spots. The Springfield Falcons and Lake Erie Monsters are both down 10 spots from last week.

Alright, enough talking. If you didn’t link in direct, jump through to see where everyone else ended up.

Rank	Team	Last Week	Comment	This Week
1		2nd (+1)	Stars overtake Heat for first in the West Friday, then narrowly get by the Comets Saturday night. Record setting ninth straight home win for the Stars.	Host RCH Wed., @ CHA Fri. & Sat.
2		5th (+3)	Falcons struggled this weekend, the Monarchs didn’t and are back on top of the AHL with 56 points.	@ STJ Fri., Sat. & Mon.
3		No change.	Admirals get 4 of 6 thought their jaunt through New England. Staying within arms reach of the East Division leaders.	Host WOR Fri. & Sat. @ CHA Sun.
4		No change.	Go to “The Rock” and split with the IceCaps, have a four point lead on the North.	@ IA Wed., CHI Fri., RFD Mon.
5		13th (+8)	Griffs split with the Wild this weekend and have the biggest divisional lead in the AHL (10 points)	Host CHI Wed., ABB Fri. & Sat.
6		9th (+3)	Devils couldn’t close out what would have been a perfect weekend with a win vs. the Bears Sunday in Atlantic City.	@ UTI Fri., ADK Sat., HER Sun.
7		No change.	Won 2 of 3 to maintain East lead, but may have lost starting G Nathan Lawson to injury.	@ ADK Wed., Host BRI Fri., @ SYR Sat.
8		6th (-2)	Dogs hanging around the division lead. Looks like Monsters and Amerks are fading.	Host UTI Sat.
9		8th (-1)	Penguins respond from terrible loss Wednesday to Syracuse with big wins over Phantoms and Wolf Pack, now one out of the division leading Senators.	@ PRO Fri., POR Sat., PRO Sun.
10		12th (+2)	Bears take down league leader Springfield and then the Devils at home. Once putrid power play is white hot.	@ SYR Fri., Host BRI Sat., ALB Sun.
11		1st (-10)	Falcons go 0-3 for the weekend, two losses against East Division clubs.	@ POR Fri. Host PRO Sat., ADK Mon.
12		10th (-2)	Split a series of 4-1 games this weekend. A loss to the Penguins and a win vs. the B-Sens.	Host BNG Wed., HFD Fri., ALB Sat., @ SPR Mon.
13		18th (+5)	Checkers sweep the Barons this past weekend, have quietly won 4 of 5.	Host TEX Fri. & Sat., NOR Sun.
14		16th (+2)	Split the weekend with the Marlies, now host the Monarchs for three straight.	Host MCH Fri., Sat. & Mon.
15		20th (+5)	Ads right behind Wolves for second in the division, manage some cushioning on 9th in the West.	@ SA Thu., OKC Sat. & Sun.
16		17th (+1)	Wolves win only game of weekend in Milwaukee.	@ GR Wed., Host TOR Fri., RFD Sat.
17		24th (+7)	Are the IceHogs finally starting to turn things around with a sweep of Lake Erie?	Host ABB Wed., @ CHI Sat., Host TOR Mon.
18		14th (-4)	Heat lose once insurmountable division lead, trail by one and starting to sputter.	@ RFD Wed., GR Fri. & Sat.
19		26th (+7)	Sharks hold opponents to 5 goals this weekend, and sweep it. Big road trip this weekend in Norfolk.	@ NOR Fri. & Sat.
20		28th (+8)	Trade a pair of 1-0 wins with Providence, hand Penguins an ugly loss Wednesday.	Host HER Fri., BNG Sat.
21		11th (-10)	Monsters swept by struggling ‘Hogs and beat by Milwaukee Sunday.	@ IA Fri. & Sat.
22		19th (-3)	Wild go 2-2-2 on six game road trip. A couple of winnable games this week.	Host TOR Wed., LE Fri. & Sat.
23		15th (-8)	After scoring eight goals last Sunday vs. Worcester, the P-Bruins score one goal this weekend. The 1-0 win vs. Syracuse in the shootout.	Host WBS Fri., @ SPR Sat., Host WBS Sun.
24		21st (-3)	Since coming back from the Spengler Cup, the Amerks have just won 2 of 5.	@ TEX Wed., OKC Fri., SA Sat.
25		22nd (-3)	Bad weekend for the Pirates, who get the Falcons and Penguins this week.	Host SPR Fri., WBS Sat.
26		25th (-1)	Sound Tigers end five game losing streak Sunday at home vs. Hartford.	@ BNG Fri., HER Sat., Host HFD Sun.
27		30th (+2)	Split with the Heat this week. A major accomplishment about a month ago. Now? Anyone’s guess.	Host UTI Mon., MIL Thu., RCH Sat.
28		23rd (-5)	Barons drop two to the Checkers this week, who pull ahead of them in the “best of the rest” that is the West.	Host RCH Fri., MIL Sat. & Sun.
29		27th (-2)	Comets lose to both ends of the comet tail, to a good team in Texas and to a bad one in Oklahoma City.	@ SA Mon., Host ALB Fri., @ HAM Sat.
30		29th (-2)	The first team in a long time to claim a player off of AHL waivers. (TJ Hensick) Losing streak sits at six games.	@ ADK Fri., BRI Sun.

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Norfolk fans! Special challenge this week! Defend your #3 Ranking!

And if anyone else is unhappy with where their team is ranked, hit the comments section.