Chirps from Center Ice

I don’t know about the weather where you are reading my blog from, but in Wilkes-Barre the last few days it has been sunny and springlike. Yes, Spring is here, and so are playoffs in the AHL!

Today we take a look at the Western Conference. Teams like Chicago, Texas, Grand Rapids and Milwaukee are teams that places like Wilkes-Barre, Binghamton and Providence never see in the regular season.

For teams that I only see from time to time on my AHL Live subscription, below is snapshot of each team participating, their stats, leaders, who they play first round and how they fared. I offer an overview and my odds for the team to win the Calder Cup in June.

Here goes nothing…

Abbotsford Heat

Record: 43-25-5-3 // 94 pts., 2^nd place West Division (5 seed)

Power Play: 4^th // 21.9%

Penalty Kill: 27^th // 79.4%

Top 3 Scorers: Max Reinhart 21-42-63 / Ben Street 28-32-60 / Corey Locke 10-38-48

Overview: Gritty Heat led the West for a time before Texas went on its white hot run. Faltered then recovered and seems to be peaking at the right time. G Joni Ortio is in the Top 6 for goaltending leaders. Could upset Grand Rapids in a five game series.

First Round Opponent: Grand Rapids Griffins

Record vs. the Griffins: 1-2-0-1

Odds to win the Calder Cup: 25:1

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Chicago Wolves

Record: 41-21-5-5 // 100 pts., 1^st place Midwest Division (2 seed)

Power Play: 30^th // 12.6%

Penalty Kill: 4^th // 85.6%

Top 3 Scorers: Ty Rattie 31-17-48 / Keith Aucoin 11-32-43 / Alexandre Bolduc 18-39-37

Overview: Up and down year for the Wolves, who were constructed on paper in the Fall to totally run away with things. Still managed to win the Midwest on the final weekend. The way the lineup is built with perennial hall of famers like Keith Aucoin and Goaltender of the Year Jake Allen in the lineup, the Wolves are looking like a tough out.

First Round Opponent: Rochester Americans

Record vs. the Americans: 1-1-0-0

Odds to win the Calder Cup: 10:1

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Grand Rapids Griffins

Record: 46-26-2-5 // 99 pts., 2^nd place Midwest Division (4 seed)

Power Play: 7^th // 20.2%

Penalty Kill: 5^th // 85.6%

Top 3 Scorers: Teemu Pulkkinen 31-28-59 / Adam Almquist 4-49-53 / Cory Emmerton 16-30-46

Overview: Defending Champion Griffins looking to repeat this year having missed out on Midwest crown on the final day of regular season to the Chicago Wolves. But don’t let that fool you. The Griffins have been a top five team all season long. They know what it takes to win a championship.

First Round Opponent: Abbotsford Heat

Record vs. the Heat: 3-1-0-0

Odds to win the Calder Cup: 5:1

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Milwaukee Admirals

Record: 39-24-6-7 // 91 pts., 3^rd place Midwest Division (6 seed)

Power Play: 14^th // 17.5%

Penalty Kill: 7^th // 83.8%

Top 3 Scorers: Miikka Salomaki 20-30-50 / Taylor Beck 17-32-49 / Austin Watson 22-24-46

Overview: Admirals never really were a threat to overtake division rivals Chicago and Grand Rapids, but that didn’t stop them from making their 12^th consecutive playoff appearance.

First Round Opponent: Toronto Marlies

Record vs. the Marlies: 2-0-0-0

Odds to win the Calder Cup: 30:1

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Oklahoma City Barons

Record: 36-29-2-9 // 83 pts., 3^rd place West Division (8 seed)

Power Play: 3^rd // 22.1%

Penalty Kill: 28^th // 78.9%

Top 3 Scorers: Roman Horak 23-32-55 / Anton Lander 18-34-52 / Brad Hunt 11-39-50

Overview: Barons surged past Charlotte, Rockford and Utica in the seasons closing weeks to claim the eighth and final playoff spot. The Barons are the only playoff team that has four or more wins against the Texas Stars this season.

First Round Opponent: Texas Stars

Record vs. the Stars: 4-6-2-0

Odds to win the Calder Cup: 50:1

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Rochester Americans

Record: 37-28-6-5 // 85 pts., 2^nd place North Division (7 seed)

Power Play: 10^th // 19.8%

Penalty Kill: 12^th // 83.1%

Top 3 Scorers: Phil Varone 18-43-61 / Luke Adam 29-20-49 / Nick Deslauriers 19-23-42

Overview: Amerks looked for a time like they weren’t going to make playoffs, having lost nine in a row in March but managed to turn things around with a five game win streak and got in as a 7 seed.

First Round Opponent: Chicago Wolves

Record vs. the Wolves: 1-1-0-0

Odds to win the Calder Cup: 45:1

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Texas Stars

Record: 48-18-3-7 // 106 pts., 1^st place West Division (1 seed)

Power Play: 1^st // 25.3%

Penalty Kill: 3^rd // 86.4%

Top 3 Scorers: Travis Morin 32-56-88 / Curtis McKenzie 27-38-65 / Colton Sceviour 32-31-63

Overview: The Stars tore through the regular season and won the Macgregror Kilpatrick Trophy. They have the league MVP in Travis Morin, they have the best power play in the league converting at over 25% and are top three on the penalty kill. Texas is the second highest scoring team in the league, barely being edged by Binghamton back East. This team is a powerhouse and the odds on lock for the Calder Cup in June.

First Round Opponent: Oklahoma City Barons

Record vs. the Barons: 8-3-1-0

Odds to win the Calder Cup: 3:1

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Toronto Marlies

Record: 45-25-2-4 // 96 pts., 1^st place North Division (3 seed)

Power Play: 9^th // 19.9%

Penalty Kill: 11^th // 83.2%

Top 3 Scorers: T.J. Brennan 25-47-72 / Spencer Abbott 17-52-69 / Greg McKegg 19-28-47

Overview: Marlies have been the class of the North Division for years now. Very balanced attack can roll line after line at opponents and wear them down. A Division winner can’t be considered a dark horse to win it all, can it?

First Round Opponent: Milwaukee Admirals

Record vs. the Admirals: 2-0-0-0

Odds to win the Calder Cup: 8:1

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So there you have it. Not bad for an East Division blogger that never sees half these teams in person, eh?. Tomorrow we roll with the Eastern Conference Playoff Previews.