Chirps from Center Ice

Could have used more.

That’s the theme that many teams will be saying to themselves this week. There are five spots remaining. Three in the East and two in the West. For teams jockeying for those final five spots, there are some that could have used more points.

The Albany Devils are not one of those teams. They are your biggest gainer this week after a perfect weekend.

Biggest fall this week belong to your Hartford Wolf Pack, out of the tenth spot and down six spots. The Pack are playing spoiler, but got smoked on the Rock by the IceCaps.

The Texas Stars are still your number one team. There is a change to the number two team, no longer held by the Grand Rapids Griffins, but you will have to click through the jump to see who and where your favorite team ended up.

Rank	Team	Last Week	Comment	This Week
1		No change.	11 game winning streak ended Sunday by San Antonio in a shootout. Regular season champion will be decided this week between Texas and Manchester.	@ OKC Wed., Host ABB Sat.
2		3rd (+1)	Monarchs tearing through the Eastern Conference like tissue paper. Real test starts next week.	@ PRO Fri.
3		5th (+2)	Falcons sweep weekend to sew up nothing worse than the two seed.	@ HFD Fri., ALB Sat.
4		2nd (-2)	Split with the Checkers this weekend. Should be a solid 2 seed in the West.	Home & Home with LE Fri. & Sat.
5		7th (+2)	Wrapped up 12th trip to the postseason with a win Saturday against Binghamton. Are a point up on the B-Sens for the Division.	@ BNG Fri., UTI Sat.
6		14th (+8)	Perfect weekend was just what the doctor ordered in the Capital District. The Devils will be a playoff team.	@ POR Wed., Host SPR Sat.
7		4th (-3)	Lost division lead to the Penguins this week, and needed OT against Hershey Sunday to clinch a spot.	Host TOR Wed., WBS Fri., NOR Sat.
8		6th (-2)	Bruins are one of the teams that needed max points this weekend and didn’t find them. Three to the good on eighth place, but it’s going to be a tense week in the Rhode Island capital.	Host MCH Fri., @ WOR Sat.
9		11th (+2)	Perfect weekend spoiled by the Milwaukee Admirals, who could be a first round opponent.	@ IA Wed., RFD Fri., Host MIL Sat.
10		12th (+2)	Respond to a 6-3 thrashing by the lowly Crunch with a three goal third period explosion vs. the Penguins and win.	@ BNG Wed., UTI Fri., Host RCH Sat.
11		13th (+2)	Heat clinch this week. Split with the Barons. Could be a force in playoffs.	@ SA Thu. & Fri., TEX Sat.
12		9th (-3)	4 out of 6 for the Bears this weekend. They needed max points. Play Norfolk twice for the right to go to the playoffs.	@ NOR Wed. & Fri., Host ADK Sat.
13		8th (-5)	IceCaps sputtering. Regrouped with a 6-2 thrashing of Hartford Sunday.	@ WOR Fri., POR Sat.
14		15th (+1)	Admirals clinch playoffs for the 12th consecutive season. Have won 4 straight.	Host CHA Fri., @ CHI Sat.
15		18th (+3)	5 of 6 will do to keep pace with Hershey for the 8. Host the Bears this week for the, “who gets Manchester Round 1?” sweepstakes.	Host HER Wed. & Fri., @ BNG Sat.
16		10th (-6)	7 game winning streak snapped in St. John’s. Pack may finish 10th, with a bunch of what ifs.	Host SPR Fri., BRI Sat.
17		20th (+3)	Four of six for the Amerks, but they could have used 5+.	@ UTI Wed., Host SYR Fri., @ TOR Sat.
18		16th (-2)	Barons split with the Heat in British Columbia. Two to the good on ninth place Charlotte.	Host TEX Wed., IA Fri. & Sat.
19		24th (-5)	Comets are among the many who could have used all 6 points this weekend. A 2-1 loss to the Phantoms Sunday puts a bend in the playoff chances.	Host RCH Wed., TOR Fri., WBS Sat.
20		22nd (+2)	Splitting with the Griffins was not what the Checkers needed. Charlotte needed max points and just got half.	@ MIL Fri., @ FRD Sat.
21		No change.	2 of 6 for the Hogs. They may not make it this year.	Host CHI Fri., CHA Sat.
22		17th (-5)	Dogs win and lose shootouts this week. Have some winnable games this week to close out the campaign.	@ LE Tue., Host SYR Sat.
23		19th (-4)	Shootout loss to the Penguins, beat up the Marlies then were shutout by the Devils.	Host ADK Wed., @ RCH Fri., HAM Sat.
24		25th (+1)	They are playing out the string in Glens Falls. Play upset against a Utica team that needed the points Sunday.	@ SYR Wed., Host BRI Fri., @ HER Sat.
25		23rd (-2)	Had the Rampage made playoffs, they would have drawn Texas. They played the Stars three times this week and were outscored 13-5. Oof.	Host ABB Thu. & Fri.
26		27th (+1)	Close games with playoff contending teams this weekend.	Host HAM Tue., Home & Home with GR Fri. & Sat.
27		26th (-1)	Could have played upset this week with a win against the Admirals, instead were shutout.	Host STJ Fri., PRO Sat.
28		30th (+2)	Eight game losing streak coming into the final weekend of a forgettable season in Southern Maine.	Host ALB Wed., STJ Sat.
29		No change.	11 game losing streak for the Sound Tigers. Could get a few wins this week vs. the Phantoms.	@ ADK Fri., HFD Sat.
30		28th (-2)	Thanks for playing, Iowa, your parting gifts are at the door. Swept this weekend.	Host CHI Wed., @ OKC Fri. & Sat.

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Five more spots up for grabs this week. Will your team make it?