There is some moving and shaking going around in Week 13 of the Chirps from Center Ice AHL Power Rankings.
Oklahoma City overtakes Utica for tops overall in the Western Conference and remain the number one team this week.
The Springfield Falcons draw within one point of the Eastern Conference leading Manchester Monarchs.
The Syracuse Crunch get to two points behind the Falcons with a game in hand.
This weeks Rankings reflect all of this, as all of the division leaders are in the top seven. You are an experienced reader and know that you have to click the jump in order to see where everyone ended up this week if you didn’t link in direct from elsewhere.
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| Barons overtake the Comets for tops in the Conference, something that I don’t think anyone would have predicted a few weeks ago. |
Rank: 1
Last Week: 1st
Change: n/a |
Last Week:
CHA 2 @ OKC 4
OKC 3 @ LE 2
OKC 5 @ LE 2 |
This Week:
vs. TEX 1/6
@ ADK 1/9
@ RCH 1/10
@ HAM 1/11 |
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| Gritty comeback against the Monarchs Sunday that capped off a perfect weekend for Springfield. The Falcons are just one point behind Manchester for first in the Conference. |
Rank: 2
Last Week: 2nd
Change: n/a |
Last Week:
SPR 3 @ POR 5
WOR 3 @ SPR 4 (SO)
MCH 2 @ SPR 3 (OT) |
This Week:
@ PRO 1/9
vs. HFD 1/10
vs. ALB 1/11 |
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| Shutout rival Chicago Saturday to open up a six point cushion on the Wolves. |
Rank: 3
Last Week: 6th
Change: Up 3 |
Last Week:
HAM 2 @ RFD 1
RFD 3 @ GR 2 (SO)
RFD 3 @ CHI 0 |
This Week:
@ MIL 1/8
vs. MIL 1/9 |
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| Back and forth weekend for the Crunch, who trail Springfield by two points but have a game in hand. |
Rank: 4
Last Week: 5th
Change: Up 1 |
Last Week:
SYR 1 @ RCH 4
SYR 2 @ ALB 1 (SO)
SYR 5 @ BNG 4 (OT) |
This Week:
@ HFD 1/9
vs. WBS 1/10 |
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| Manchester let a 2-1 lead slip away Sunday in Springfield and lost in overtime. Falcons draw to just a point behind the Monarchs for the Conference lead. |
Rank: 5
Last Week: 4th
Change: Down 1 |
Last Week:
STJ 0 @ MCH 4
MCH 2 @ WOR 1
MCH 2 @ SPR 3 (OT) |
This Week:
@ STJ 1/6
@ STJ 1/7
vs. BNG 1/10 |
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| 5 of 6 points for the East Division leaders. Bodies are healing up top, while the core that remains continues to gel. Trap games this week before a stiff test in Central New York. |
Rank: 6
Last Week: 10th
Change: Up 4 |
Last Week:
HER 0 @ WBS 2
BNG 0 @ WBS 5
WBS 1 @ HER 2 (SO) |
This Week:
vs. NOR 1/6
vs. NOR 1/9
@ SYR 1/10 |
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| Is this a bump in the road that nearly every AHL team encounters for Utica or something else? Utica is 11-1-2 against North Division competition but 8-4-1 against Midwest and West Division competition. |
Rank: 7
Last Week: 3rd
Change: Down 4 |
Last Week:
SA 8 @ UTI 4
UTI 2 @ ADK 1
IA 2 @ UTI 1 |
This Week:
@ HAM 1/9
vs. ADK 1/10 |
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| 5 of 6 points for the Griffins this week, who close in on second place Chicago. Points could get a boost this week with a visit by the Checkers. |
Rank: 8
Last Week: 12th
Change: Up 4 |
Last Week:
GR 2 @ CHI 1 (OT)
RFD 3 @ GR 2 (SO)
MIL 2 @ GR 4 |
This Week:
vs. CHA 1/7
vs. CHA 1/9
vs. CHI 1/10 |
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| Marlies take 5 of 6 points out of the weekend. Toronto has taken points away from the past 7 games. |
Rank: 9
Last Week: 13th
Change: Up 4 |
Last Week:
TOR 2 @ ADK 3 (OT)
SA 2 @ TOR 3
SA 4 @ TOR 3 (OT) |
This Week:
@ TEX 1/10
@ SA 1/11 |
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| Quiet four game win streak for Portland. A couple more winnable games this week ahead too. |
Rank: 10
Last Week: 17th
Change: Up 7 |
Last Week:
HFD 1 @ POR 3
SPR 3 @ POR 5
PRO 0 @ POR 1 (SO) |
This Week:
vs. BNG 1/7
vs. BRI 1/9
@ PRO 1/11 |
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| Won two games against the Admirals in overtime and a shootout this week to keep up with Hershey. Travel to Newfoundland this week for the Phantoms. |
Rank: 11
Last Week: 15th
Change: Up 4 |
Last Week:
LV 2 @ BNG 6
LV 3 @ NOR 2 (OT)
LV 3 @ NOR 2 (SO) |
This Week:
@ STJ 1/10
@ STJ 1/11 |
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| P-Bruins were probably exhausted Sunday when they hosted and lost to the Sharks. Points like that lost may catch up to a team like Providence. |
Rank: 12
Last Week: 16th
Change: Up 4 |
Last Week:
PRO 3 @ ALB 2
BRI 2 @ PRO 4
PRO 0 @ POR 1 (SO)
WOR 3 @ PRO 1 |
This Week:
vs. SPR 1/9
@ WOR 1/10
vs. POR 1/11 |
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| Wolf Pack knocked around a bit this week. A 7-3 pasting by St. John’s capped off a forgettable weekend. |
Rank: 13
Last Week: 7th
Change: Down 6 |
Last Week:
HFD 1 @ POR 3
STJ 2 @ HFD 4
STJ 7 @ HFD 3 |
This Week:
vs. SYR 1/9
@ SPR 1/10
vs. BRI 1/11 |
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| Rampage aren’t good enough for first place in the division, but are better than third or lower, if that statement makes sense. Rampage in the mix with a lot of teams in the Midwest Division, who they are only 1-3 against. |
Rank: 14
Last Week: 19th
Change: Up 5 |
Last Week:
SA 8 @ UTI 4
SA 2 @ TOR 3
SA 4 @ TOR 3 (OT) |
This Week:
@ ADK 1/6
@ RCH 1/7
vs. IA 1/10
vs. TOR 1/11 |
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| Hershey’s offensive struggles continue. Just three goals scored this week for the Bears, who lost Philipp Grubauer to an injury on New Years Eve in Wilkes-Barre. Still five back of the Penguins with two games in hand. |
Rank: 15
Last Week: 11th
Change: Down 4 |
Last Week:
NOR 1 @ HER 2
HER 0 @ WBS 2
WBS 1 @ HER 2 (SO) |
This Week:
@ ALB 1/9
vs. NOR 1/10
vs. NOR 1/11 |
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| Five back of division leading Utica, but solidly in fourth spot with a three point cushion on fifth. Tough schedule this week for the Flames. |
Rank: 16
Last Week: 20th
Change: Up 4 |
Last Week:
TOR 2 @ ADK 3 (OT)
UTI 2 @ ADK 1
RCH 0 @ ADK 4 |
This Week:
vs. SA 1/6
vs. OKC 1/9
@ UTI 1/10 |
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| Worcester sits at .500 after the first weekend in January. Can the Sharks build on this? |
Rank: 17
Last Week: 23rd
Change: Up 6 |
Last Week:
BRI 2 @ WOR 6
MCH 2 @ WOR 1
WOR 3 @ SPR 4 (SO)
WOR 3 @ PRO 1 |
This Week:
vs. BNG 1/9
vs. PRO 1/10 |
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| Devils stumble a bit this week, with just one win to show. |
Rank: 18
Last Week: 9th
Change: Down 9 |
Last Week:
PRO 3 @ ALB 2
SYR 2 @ ALB 1 (SO)
ALB 7 @ BRI 4
ALB 3 @ BRI 4 |
This Week:
vs. HER 1/9
vs. BRI 1/10
@ SPR 1/11 |
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| Sound Tigers salvage a win Sunday against Albany. After not allowing a single goal last weekend, Bridgeport fished 20 pucks out of their nets this weekend. |
Rank: 19
Last Week: 8th
Change: Down 11 |
Last Week:
BRI 2 @ WOR 6
BRI 2 @ PRO 4
ALB 7 @ BRI 4
ALB 3 @ BRI 4 |
This Week:
@ POR 1/9
@ ALB 1/10
@ HFD 1/11 |
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| Chicago is just 2-4 against rival Rockford this season, a team that leads them by 6 points in the Midwest Division and 7-4-3 against the other teams not nicknamed the IceHogs. I don’t know if that is enough to consider Chicago serious division contenders. |
Rank: 20
Last Week: 21st
Change: Up 1 |
Last Week:
GR 2 @ CHI 1 (OT)
HAM 2 @ CHI 3 (OT)
RFD 3 @ CHI 0 |
This Week:
@ GR 1/10 |
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| Split two in Charlotte this week. You would have loved to take max points away from North Carolina if you were Texas. |
Rank: 21
Last Week: 22nd
Change: Up 1 |
Last Week:
TEX 4 @ CHA 1
TEX 2 @ CHA 5 |
This Week:
@ OKC 1/6
vs. IA 1/9
vs. TOR 1/10 |
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| Bulldogs road trip through the Midwest brings home just three of six points. Despite that, Hamilton still in the mix with about half a dozen other teams. |
Rank: 22
Last Week: 18th
Change: Down 4 |
Last Week:
HAM 2 @ RFD 1
HAM 2 @ CHI 3 (OT)
HAM 1 @ MIL 4 |
This Week:
vs. UTI 1/9
vs. LE 1/10
vs. OKC 1/11 |
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| All types of issues surround this Binghamton team, who sent G Scott Greenham to ECHL Evansville but Greenham didn’t dress. Greenham seems to be the best option for the Senators, who signed Peter Mannino to a PTO this week. |
Rank: 23
Last Week: 14th
Change: Down 9 |
Last Week:
LV 2 @ BNG 6
BNG 0 @ WBS 5
SYR 5 @ BNG 4 (OT) |
This Week:
@ POR 1/7
@ WOR 1/9
@ MCH 1/10 |
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| Rochester beat all non-divisional opponents this weekend, but lost to division foe Adirondack. Americans are just 8-12-1 against the other teams in the North. |
Rank: 24
Last Week: 27th
Change: Up 3 |
Last Week:
SYR 1 @ RCH 4
IA 0 @ RCH 3
RCH 0 @ ADK 4 |
This Week:
vs. SA 1/7
vs. LE 1/9
vs. OKC 1/10 |
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| Up and down week for the Wild, they seem to win closer games. Trip to Texas this week. |
Rank: 25
Last Week: 30th
Change: Up 5 |
Last Week:
MIL 2 @ IA 3 (OT)
IA 0 @ RCH 3
IA 2 @ UTI 1 |
This Week:
@ TEX 1/9
@ SA 1/10 |
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| Overtime win against the Admirals was the only positive to take out of the weekend for Lake Erie. |
Rank: 26
Last Week: 24th
Change: Down 2 |
Last Week:
LE 5 @ MIL 4 (OT)
OKC 3 @ LE 2
OKC 5 @ LE 2 |
This Week:
@ RCH 1/9
@ HAM 1/10 |
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| IceCaps re-join the AHL picture after having last weekend off but laid an egg against Manchester and split a pair against Hartford. Some home cooking this week for St. John’s with four games. |
Rank: 27
Last Week: 26th
Change: Down 1 |
Last Week:
STJ 0 @ MCH 4
STJ 2 @ HFD 4
STJ 7 @ HFD 3 |
This Week:
vs. MCH 1/6
vs. MCH 1/7
vs. LV 1/10
vs. LV 1/11 |
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| Split a pair with Texas this weekend at home. Take to the road for Michigan and Wisconsin this week. |
Rank: 28
Last Week: 28th
Change: n/a |
Last Week:
CHA 2 @ OKC 4
TEX 4 @ CHA 1
TEX 2 @ CHA 5 |
This Week:
@ GR 1/7
@ GR 1/9
@ MIL 1/10 |
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| Dany Heatley and Emerson Etem are here, for now. Here’s where you expect the Admirals to kick it into gear and win some games. |
Rank: 29
Last Week: 29th
Change: n/a |
Last Week:
NOR 1 @ HER 2
LV 3 @ NOR 2 (OT)
LV 3 @ NOR 2 (SO) |
This Week:
@ WBS 1/6
@ WBS 1/9
@ HER 1/10
@ HER 1/11 |
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| Things are slipping in Milwaukee, who just took away four of eight points this week. Now a home and home with the division leading Rockford IceHogs. |
Rank: 30
Last Week: 25th
Change: Down 5 |
Last Week:
MIL 2 @ IA 3 (OT)
LE 5 @ MIL 4 (OT)
MIL 2 @ GR 4
HAM 1 @ MIL 4 |
This Week:
vs. RFD 1/8
@ RFD 1/9
vs. CHA 1/10 |
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