In case you missed it: I set the table for today’s game against Hershey in Hershey.

So the NHL is on hiatus for the next two weeks because of the Winter Olympics in Russia. It’ll be good to go back to blogging up the highest level of hockey in North America for this time frame.

Wait. What’s that? The AHL is on hiatus for their own All-Star Break too? Just a week? Okay. Well, I guess I’ll make the most of what I have while I can.

Anyway, there are a slew of moves during the NHL break that are affecting East Division clubs in the AHL. We saw it firsthand yesterday with the reassignments of Jayson Megna, Brian Gibbons and Harry Zolnierczyk from Pittsburgh to Wilkes-Barre. Gibbons will head to St. John’s this week to represent the Penguins in the AHL All Star Classic.

As for the rest of the East Division, here’s who is on their way back down for the Olympic break, who each AHL East Division team plays and a reasonable expectation based off of who they do.

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Pittsburgh / Wilkes Barre

This trio needs no introduction. For Wilkes-Barre, the additions could not come at a better time divisionally because the next five games are against Hershey (today) Binghamton (Friday) Hershey (Saturday and Sunday) and Binghamton (next Wednesday) — Win all of them, and the Penguins are likely division leaders and in solid shape for playoffs heading into the month of March. Lose, forget about the division lead and scrape and muck with teams from 6 through 13.

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Washington / Hershey

Casey Wellman, Julien Brouillette and Patrick Wey — seemingly should be in the lineup this afternoon for the Bears. Bears get Wilkes-Barre (today) Albany (Friday) Wilkes-Barre (Saturday and Sunday) and Syracuse (next Saturday) for their next five. Bears can make a push for the division lead but have to jump over three other teams to get there. A daunting task, but nothing that the Bears can’t accomplish. A more reasonable expectation is for Hershey to solidify themselves in the Top 8 for playoffs.

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Ottawa / Binghamton

The East Division leaders got MORE offensive help earlier in the week with the return of second leading scorer Stephane Da Costa as well as Mark Stone. Binghamton gets Wilkes-Barre (Friday) Worcester (Saturday) Wilkes-Barre (next Wednesday) Hamilton (next Friday) and Utica (next Saturday) for their next five. The division leader is hoping for a Hershey win today to keep the Penguins at bay and then have to deal with the Penguins for two of their next three games with tough Worcester and Hamilton teams in there and the always surprising Utica Comets. For Binghamton, maintaining the lead in the division is crucial. If they fall back to Hershey or Norfolk, there may be no returning to the top.

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Tampa Bay / Syracuse

Defenseman J.P. Cote cleared waivers yesterday afternoon and played last night for Syracuse against Springfield, a 6-5 overtime loss for the Crunch. Kristers Gudlevskis and Vlad Namestnikov were sent back Sunday morning, but Gudlevskis is representing Latvia in the Olympics and won’t play for the Crunch. This will leave the Crunch in a bind in goal, something they have been used to in recent weeks. For Syracuse, it has to be about winning. The Crunch get Norfolk Friday and Saturday, Utica next Friday and Hershey next Saturday and Sunday. The Crunch may have to go 5-0 to even remain in the discussion for the 8 seed.

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Anaheim / Norfolk

Anaheim hasn’t yet announced who they are sending back but it is likely that leading scorer Emerson Etem will be back and will no doubt continue to help the Ads in staying in lockstep with Wilkes-Barre in trying to chase down leader Binghamton. The Admirals get Syracuse Friday and Saturday, the makeup game with Charlotte next Tuesday and then Albany and Springfield next Saturday and Sunday. Ideally, for Norfolk, separation from Hershey and Wilkes-Barre is the goal and then Binghamton will handle themselves with playing Wilkes-Barre twice. They can just win and let the Pens, Bears and B-Sens knock the snot out of each other trying to stay away from the ever dangerous Admirals.

Time, always tells.