A pig, a comet and a wolf all walk into a bar and say to the bartender, wearing a pirate costume, “why is that wolf taking a flame to that penguin wearing a tiger costume?”
You will get the point when you see who is at the top of the Week 5 Chirps from Center Ice AHL Power Rankings.
The biggest jump this week belongs to your Bridgeport Sound Tigers up 13 spots to 8th.
The biggest fall this week belongs to your Rochester Americans down 12 spots to 17th.
I could have kept going on my joke and maybe one day I will. That way you won’t have to click through the jump if you didn’t link in direct. I haven’t done it today, so please do so now….
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| Utica is winning with both defense and offense. They lead their division by double digits and are clicking in November. If they hold it together, you may have a serious contender. |
Rank: 1
Last Week: 1st
Change: n/a |
Last Week:
BNG 0 @ UTI 1
UTI 4 @ LE 1
UTI 3 @ RCH 2 |
This Week:
vs. CHI 11/12
vs. CHI 11/14 |
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| Rockford doesn’t play Utica until January 24. The way these two teams have been playing that game may be for a playoff spot so early on. IceHogs have won eight in a row. |
Rank: 2
Last Week: 2nd
Change: n/a |
Last Week:
LE 4 @ RFD 5 (OT)
RFD 5 @ IA 3
GR 1 @ RFD 3 |
This Week:
vs. MIL 11/14
@ MIL 11/15
vs. TEX 11/16 |
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| Pack are atop the Conference after four of six this weekend. Two against in state rival Bridgeport this weekend. |
Rank: 3
Last Week: 6th
Change: Up 3 |
Last Week:
ALB 1 @ HFD 3
HFD 2 @ HER 4
HFD 3 @ HER 2 |
This Week:
vs. BRI 11/14
@ BRI 11/15
vs. MCH 11/16 |
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| The Pirates have won five in a row. They play four this week against some pretty decent competition. So it’s a nice measuring stick for Portland coming up. |
Rank: 4
Last Week: 8th
Change: Up 4 |
Last Week:
POR 4 @ PRO 2
LV 0 @ POR 3 |
This Week:
vs. MCH 11/11
vs. ALB 11/14
vs. ALB 11/15
@ PRO 11/16 |
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| We will know more about this Wolves team next week when they face actual competition. |
Rank: 5
Last Week: 11th
Change: Up 6 |
Last Week:
CHI 3 @ GR 1
CHI 4 @ IA 2
CHI 5 @ IA 1 |
This Week:
@ UTI 11/12
@ UTI 11/14
@ RCH 11/15 |
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| Flames have won 4 of their last 5 and are in it with four other teams for second place in the North Division. |
Rank: 6
Last Week: 13th
Change: Up 7 |
Last Week:
ADK 3 @ HAM 1
ADK 4 @ HAM 3 |
This Week:
@ RCH 11/10
@ LE 11/14
@ LE 11/15 |
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| Perfect weekend for the Penguins who ascend to the top of the East Division. Rematch with the Crunch and Bears after the Phantoms come in for a visit Friday night in Wilkes-Barre. |
Rank: 7
Last Week: 17th
Change: Up 10 |
Last Week:
HER 2 @ WBS 3 (OT)
WBS 6 @ BNG 4
SYR 4 @ WBS 5 (OT) |
This Week:
vs. LV 11/14
vs. SYR 11/15
@ HER 11/16 |
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| Bridgeport’s 17 points has them in a three way tie for tops in the conference (based on points alone) coming into the middle of November. Now two with division leader Hartford coming up. That should be fun. |
Rank: 8
Last Week: 21st
Change: Up 13 |
Last Week:
NOR 1 @ BRI 3
ALB 2 @ BRI 7
ALB 3 @ BRI 4 (SO) |
This Week:
@ HFD 11/14
vs. HFD 11/15
vs. SPR 11/16 |
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| Sharks rebound with two nice wins. Early dark horse residing in the City of Seven Hills I think. |
Rank: 9
Last Week: 20th
Change: Up 11 |
Last Week:
LV 3 @ WOR 4
PRO 2 @ WOR 4 |
This Week:
@ SPR 11/11
vs. MCH 11/14
vs. SPR 11/15 |
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| After last weeks fall from the top spot in the Rankings, there doesn’t seem to be any reason to be concerned in Milwaukee. Yet. White hot Rockford is on the schedule this week. |
Rank: 10
Last Week: 9th
Change: Down 1 |
Last Week:
GR 0 @ MIL 4 |
This Week:
vs. IA 11/12
@ RFD 11/14
vs. RFD 11/15 |
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| Light weekend for the Monarchs, but they get four games this week. |
Rank: 11
Last Week: 7th
Change: Down 4 |
Last Week:
LV 3 @ MCH 2
SPR 1 @ MCH 2 |
This Week:
@ POR 11/11
@ WOR 11/14
vs. PRO 11/15
@ HFD 11/16 |
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| Texas scored 8 goals on 35 shots Saturday in Charlotte and led 5-0 after the first intermission. Next Sunday in Rockford should be a blast. |
Rank: 12
Last Week: 23rd
Change: Up 11 |
Last Week:
TOR 1 @ TEX 3
TEX 8 @ CHA 2 |
This Week:
@ CHA 11/10
@ GR 11/14
@ GR 11/15
@ RFD 11/16 |
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| Bruins salvage a miserable weekend by beating a miserable IceCaps team. Still tied with Worcester for the division lead so all isn’t lost. |
Rank: 13
Last Week: 3rd
Change: Down 10 |
Last Week:
POR 4 @ PRO 2
PRO 2 @ WOR 4
STJ 1 @ PRO 4 |
This Week:
vs. SPR 11/14
@MCH 11/15
vs. POR 11/16 |
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| Barons in a mix of seven teams battling for the bottom spots out West. Utica, Rockford and Chicago are the class of the Conference so far. |
Rank: 14
Last Week: 4th
Change: Down 10 |
Last Week:
TOR 3 @ OKC 4 (OT)
OKC 1 @ SA 3 |
This Week:
vs. SA 11/11
@ IA 11/14
@ IA 11/15 |
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| Two wins against the Ice Caps keeps the pace for the Falcons, who are still in a tight race in the super competitive Northeast Division. |
Rank: 15
Last Week: 26th
Change: Up 11 |
Last Week:
STJ 3 @ SPR 5
STJ 4 @ SPR 6
SPR 1 @ MCH 2 |
This Week:
vs. WOR 11/11
@ PRO 11/14
@ WOR 11/15
@ BRI 11/16 |
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| Lake Erie played probably the two hottest teams in the AHL this week, so the Politboro isn’t going to go hard on them. |
Rank: 16
Last Week: 12th
Change: Down 4 |
Last Week:
LE 4 @ RFD 5 (OT)
UTI 4 @ LE 1 |
This Week:
@ GR 11/12
vs. ADK 11/14
vs. ADK 11/15 |
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| Rochester is still in the thick of things after coming away from the weekend with zero points to show. |
Rank: 17
Last Week: 5th
Change: Down 12 |
Last Week:
RCH 1 @ HAM 6
BNG 3 @ RCH 1
UTI 3 @ RCH 2 |
This Week:
vs. ADK 11/10
vs. TOR 11/14
vs. CHI 11/15
@ HAM 11/16 |
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| You knew as soon as Sunday’s game in Bridgeport went to a shootout, that the Devils were coming out of the weekend with just a point. Albany is still in the thick of it though, just need to battle through some adversity. |
Rank: 18
Last Week: 10th
Change: Down 8 |
Last Week:
ALB 1 @ HFD 3
ALB 2 @ BRI 7
ALB 3 @ BRI 4 (SO) |
This Week:
vs. SYR 11/12
@ POR 11/14
@ POR 11/15 |
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| Bears lose grip on first in the East after just three of six points. |
Rank: 19
Last Week: 15th
Change: Down 4 |
Last Week:
HER 2 @ WBS 3 (OT)
HFD 2 @ HER 4
HFD 3 @ HER 2 |
This Week:
@ SYR 11/14
vs. WBS 11/16 |
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| Just when you thought the wheels were coming off in Syracuse, the Crunch manage points in every game this weekend and are right back in the thick of things. |
Rank: 20
Last Week: 30th
Change: Up 10 |
Last Week:
NOR 4 @ SYR 3 (OT)
NOR 4 @ SYR 5
SYR 4 @ WBS 5 (OT) |
This Week:
@ ALB 11/12
vs. HER 11/14
@ WBS 11/15 |
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| Dogs drop two against the Flames now head to the Rock for two with St. John’s before heading home to take on the Amerks in what can only be described as a brutal travel week. |
Rank: 21
Last Week: 19th
Change: Down 2 |
Last Week:
RCH 1 @ HAM 6
ADK 3 @ HAM 1
ADK 4 @ HAM 3 |
This Week:
@ STJ 11/13
@ STJ 11/14
vs. RCH 11/16 |
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| Rampage split the weekend and stay above the cut line a month into the season. |
Rank: 22
Last Week: 16th
Change: Down 6 |
Last Week:
TOR 3 @ SA 2
OKC 1 @ SA 3 |
This Week:
@ OKC 11/11
vs. CHA 11/14
vs. CHA 11/15 |
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| Maybe the Phantoms aren’t as good as everyone initially thought after losing two of three on the trip through the Atlantic Division. |
Rank: 23
Last Week: 22nd
Change: Down 1 |
Last Week:
LV 3 @ WOR 4
LV 3 @ MCH 2
LV 0 @ POR 3 |
This Week:
@ WBS 11/14
vs. TOR 11/15 |
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| Marlies haven’t found the groove yet. It’ll come, I’m sure, but how far in front will Utica be when it happens? |
Rank: 24
Last Week: 18th
Change: Down 6 |
Last Week:
TOR 1 @ TEX 3
TOR 3 @ SA 2
TOR 3 @ OKC 4 (OT) |
This Week:
@ RCH 11/14
@ LV 11/15 |
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| Disappointing week for Norfolk, who blew a 4-1 lead Saturday in Syracuse and lost. It was a weekend when you expected the Ads to smack the Crunch down, but the expectation never came. |
Rank: 25
Last Week: 14th
Change: Down 11 |
Last Week:
NOR 1 @ BRI 3
NOR 4 @ SYR 3 (OT)
NOR 4 @ SYR 5 |
This Week:
vs. BNG 11/14
vs. BNG 11/15 |
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| Salvaged a win against Rochester, but all trouble areas looked exposed in Saturday’s loss to Wilkes-Barre. |
Rank: 26
Last Week: 25th
Change: Down 1 |
Last Week:
BNG 0 @ UTI 1
BNG 3 @ RCH 1
WBS 6 @ BNG 4 |
This Week:
@ NOR 11/14
@ NOR 11/15 |
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| Things need fixed in Grand Rapids quickly. The Griffins are on a six game losing streak. |
Rank: 27
Last Week: 27th
Change: n/a |
Last Week:
CHI 3 @ GR 1
GR 0 @ MIL 4
GR 1 @ RFD 3 |
This Week:
vs. LE 11/12
vs. TEX 11/14
vs. TEX 11/15 |
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| Wait. The Stars just scored another goal on the Checkers again. |
Rank: 28
Last Week: 24th
Change: Down 4 |
Last Week:
TEX 8 @ CHA 2 |
This Week:
vs. TEX 11/10
@ SA 11/14
@ SA 11/15 |
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| Seven game losing streak for the IceCaps. Two with an equally struggling Hamilton squad this week. |
Rank: 29
Last Week: 28th
Change: Down 1 |
Last Week:
STJ 3 @ SPR 5
STJ 4 @ SPR 6
STJ 1 @ PRO 4 |
This Week:
vs. HAM 11/13
vs. HAM 11/14 |
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| How bad is Iowa? Four points. No, not this weekend, THIS SEASON. Teams get four points in two days, Iowa has four points in one month. Got to turn things around in Des Moines. |
Rank: 30
Last Week: 29th
Change: Down 1 |
Last Week:
RFD 5 @ IA 3
CHI 4 @ IA 2
CHI 5 @ IA 1 |
This Week:
@ MIL 11/12
vs. OKC 11/14
vs. OKC 11/15 |
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If you want to throw tomatoes, do so in the comments. Thanks, and try the veal!
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