Chirps from Center Ice

A fan blog about the AHL's Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins

AHL Power Rankings: Week 25

Leave a comment Posted by on March 28, 2016

We are about two weeks away from the end of the regular season and two teams have already qualified for the Calder Cup Playoffs.

These two teams are more than likely odds on locks to become foes in the Calder Cup Finals in June.

They are 1-2 in the Week 25 version of the Chirps from Center Ice AHL Power Rankings.

If you don’t know who, you either haven’t been paying enough attention to the AHL this season or you don’t read these Rankings on a weekly basis.

I am not going to ruin it for you in the lede. You will need to jump through to see who it is and where your favorite team ended up this week.

14tex_500
Just making sure that the machine is running without any issues for the next month as the Marlies will probably lock up the Eastern Conference title in a week or so.
Rank: 1
Last Week: 3rd
Change: Up 2
Record: 47-15-5-0		 Last Week:
STJ 3 @ TOR 5		 This Week:
vs. STJ 3/29
@ SYR 4/1
vs. GR 4/2

14tex_500
Split a pair with the Heat this week but are just cruising now until mid-April when it starts counting again.
Rank: 2
Last Week: 1st
Change: Down 1
Record: 39-16-4-1		 Last Week:
ONT 5 @ BAK 2
STK 2 @ ONT 4
STK 4 @ ONT 2		 This Week:
@ SJ 3/30
@ SJ 4/1
@ BAK 4/2

14tex_500
Tough week for the Bruins. Those two points left in Allentown may not get them the Atlantic Division title, but the butt-whooping they laid on the Penguins Saturday showed that they are a team that needs to be taken very seriously.
Rank: 3
Last Week: 4th
Change: Up 1
Record: 35-20-9-3		 Last Week:
PRO 3 @ HFD 2 (OT)
PRO 3 @ LV 4
PRO 5 @ WBS 0		 This Week:
@ POR 4/1
vs. HER 4/2
vs. HER 4/3

14tex_500
Points this week which keep the Admirals at the top of the Central Division for now. Big game this week with the Griffins.
Rank: 4
Last Week: 8th
Change: Up 4
Record: 41-21-3-2		 Last Week:
MIL 2 @ TEX 0
MIL 4 @ TEX 5 (SO)		 This Week:
vs. GR 3/29
vs. SA 4/2

14tex_500
Needed overtime and a shootout win Saturday against the Devils to finally shake the Penguins and ascent to the top of the Atlantic Division again. Tough road schedule for Hershey this week.
Rank: 5
Last Week: 10th
Change: Up 5
Record: 38-18-4-7		 Last Week:
HER 8 @ LV 0
HER 2 @ UTI 1 (OT)
ALB 2 @ HER 3 (SO)		 This Week:
@ HFD 4/1
@ PRO 4/2
@ PRO 4/3

14tex_500
Have said for a while that Lake Erie was a playoff team, this past week will likely seal the Monsters fate.
Rank: 6
Last Week: 13th
Change: Up 7
Record: 37-21-5-5		 Last Week:
RFD 2 @ LE 4
RFD 1 @ LE 5
LE 5 @ GR 2		 This Week:
@ CHI 4/1
@ CHI 4/2

14tex_500
That pasting Providence put on Wilkes-Barre Saturday will either make the Penguins a stronger team or will expose weaknesses that other teams may capitalize on.
Rank: 7
Last Week: 9th
Change: Up 2
Record: 40-22-4-1		 Last Week:
BNG 0 @ WBS 5
WBS 3 @ BNG 2 (OT)
PRO 5 @ WBS 0		 This Week:
vs. SPR 3/29
vs. BRI 4/2
vs. POR 4/3

14tex_500
Devils will be the next team that clinches that no one will celebrate because no one knows just how good this team is.
Rank: 8
Last Week: 5th
Change: Down 3
Record: 39-17-8-2		 Last Week:
SPR 1 @ ALB 4
ALB 1 @ SYR 3
ALB 2 @ HER 3 (SO)		 This Week:
vs. HFD 3/29
@ BNG 4/1
vs. SPR 4/2
vs. BNG 4/3

14tex_500
If this were a roller coaster, the Griffins would have their arms in the air screaming as the car rolled downhill. That’s the way this season has gone for Grand Rapids. Tough week ahead.
Rank: 9
Last Week: 2nd
Change: Down 7
Record: 41-23-1-1		 Last Week:
GR 1 @ SA 2
LE 5 @ GR 2		 This Week:
@ MIL 3/29
@ RCH 4/1
@ TOR 4/2
@ RCH 4/3

14tex_500
Split a pair with San Jose, are second in the Pacific and will be a playoff team soon.
Rank: 10
Last Week: 11th
Change: Up 1
Record: 34-22-2-2		 Last Week:
SD 0 @ SJ 3
SD 3 @ SJ 1		 This Week:
@ STK 3/30
vs. SJ 4/2
vs. STK 4/3

14tex_500
Got points out of playoff rival teams but gave away the full two points to a going no where Lehigh Valley team and let a ton of teams back into the discussion on Saturday night. This weeks schedule may bury the Wolf Pack.
Rank: 11
Last Week: 6th
Change: Down 5
Record: 36-28-3-0		 Last Week:
PRO 3 @ HFD 2 (OT)
BRI 1 @ HFD 2 (OT)
HFD 1 @ LV 2		 This Week:
@ ALB 3/29
vs. HER 4/1
vs. POR 4/2

14tex_500
Will be a playoff team, but this weekend doesn’t do the Stars any favors beyond that.
Rank: 12
Last Week: 18th
Change: Up 6
Record: 36-23-7-3		 Last Week:
MIL 2 @ TEX 0
MIL 4 @ TEX 5 (SO)
TEX 2 @ SA 3 (OT)		 This Week:
vs. BAK 3/29
@ CHA 4/1
@ CHA 4/2

14tex_500
Needed three wins to stay above the cut line and got them. Will probably be the crossover team that gets obliterated by Toronto in the first round.
Rank: 13
Last Week: 23rd
Change: Up 10
Record: 35-24-5-2		 Last Week:
BRI 3 @ POR 6
SPR 3 @ POR 4
SPR 1 @ POR 6		 This Week:
@ BRI 3/29
vs. PRO 4/1
@ HFD 4/2
@ WBS 4/3

14tex_500
Troubling past week will make for some tense times in Southern Connecticut in these final weeks.
Rank: 14
Last Week: 7th
Change: Down 7
Record: 36-24-4-3		 Last Week:
BRI 3 @ POR 6
BRI 1 @ HFD 2 (OT)		 This Week:
vs. POR 3/29
@ WBS 4/2
vs. SPR 4/3

14tex_500
The Checkers are still lingering around the crossover spot to the Pacific with a big week.
Rank: 15
Last Week: 21st
Change: Up 6
Record: 33-26-3-4		 Last Week:
CHA 7 @ CHI 3
CHA 6 @ MTB 2		 This Week:
@ MTB 3/28
vs. TEX 4/1
vs. TEX 4/2

14tex_500
Crunch need to push for the third spot in the division because fourth in the North is going to lose out to the Atlantic’s fifth place team it would appear.
Rank: 16
Last Week: 19th
Change: Up 3
Record: 30-25-10-3		 Last Week:
SYR 3 @ UTI 1
ALB 1 @ SYR 3
RCH 1 @ SYR 3		 This Week:
vs. TOR 4/1
vs. RCH 4/2
@ UTI 4/3

14tex_500
Rampage played the role of spoiler to a tee this week with wins over Grand Rapids, Bakersfield and Texas. San Antonio has won four in a row.
Rank: 17
Last Week: 26th
Change: Up 9
Record: 28-33-8-0		 Last Week:
GR 1 @ SA 2
BAK 0 @ SA 3
TEX 2 @ SA 3 (OT)		 This Week:
@ RFD 4/1
@ MIL 4/2

14tex_500
IceHogs are slumping at the wrong time. Winners of just two of their last eight games.
Rank: 18
Last Week: 12th
Change: Down 6
Record: 35-19-8-4		 Last Week:
RFD 2 @ LE 4
RFD 1 @ LE 5		 This Week:
@ CHI 3/30
vs. SA 4/1
vs. IA 4/2

14tex_500
Need max points this week if Utica wants to cement themselves as a solid three seed in the North. The Crunch are coming and it’s quicker than you think.
Rank: 19
Last Week: 20th
Change: Up 1
Record: 32-23-7-4		 Last Week:
SYR 3 @ UTI 1
HER 2 @ UTI 1 (OT)
UTI 5 @ BNG 1		 This Week:
vs. RCH 3/29
vs. SPR 4/1
@ BNG 4/2
vs. SYR 4/3

14tex_500
Looking like the Barracuda will need to fend off the Checkers in the Central for the crossover spot. This weeks schedule doesn’t do San Jose any favors.
Rank: 20
Last Week: 16th
Change: Down 4
Record: 28-22-7-3		 Last Week:
SD 0 @ SJ 3
SD 3 @ SJ 1		 This Week:
vs. ONT 3/30
@ BAK 4/1
@ SD 4/2

14tex_500
Came from four goals down in the third period Wednesday to shock the IceCaps then dropped two straight. Playoff chances are in danger.
Rank: 21
Last Week: 14th
Change: Down 7
Record: 32-31-2-1		 Last Week:
STJ 5 @ RCH 6
STJ 5 @ RCH 3
RCH 1 @ SYR 3		 This Week:
@ UTI 3/29
vs. GR 4/1
@ SYR 4/2
vs. GR 4/3

14tex_500
That trip to Manitoba sealed what dim playoff hopes Stockton had.
Rank: 22
Last Week: 17th
Change: Down 5
Record: 28-27-2-2		 Last Week:
STK 0 @ MTB 3
STK 2 @ MTB 3
STK 2 @ ONT 4
STK 4 @ ONT 2		 This Week:
vs. SD 3/30
vs. ONT 4/1
@ SD 4/3

14tex_500
After getting pasted 8-0 at home by the Hershey Bears, the Phantoms respond and play upset against two contending Atlantic Division teams. Head to The Rock for a pair with the IceCaps.
Rank: 23
Last Week: 30th
Change: Up 7
Record: 29-32-4-3		 Last Week:
HER 8 @ LV 0
PRO 3 @ LV 4
HFD 1 @ LV 2		 This Week:
@ STJ 4/1
@ STJ 4/2

14tex_500
Four game win streak went away quietly when the B-Sens ran into much stiffer competition this week.
Rank: 24
Last Week: 15th
Change: Down 9
Record: 27-34-5-1		 Last Week:
BNG 0 @ WBS 5
WBS 3 @ BNG 2 (OT)
UTI 5 @ BNG 1		 This Week:
vs. ALB 4/1
vs. UTI 4/2
@ ALB 4/3

14tex_500
Playoff chances, while slim, took a big hit this weekend.
Rank: 25
Last Week: 22nd
Change: Down 3
Record: 27-24-6-2		 Last Week:
ONT 5 @ BAK 2
BAK 0 @ SA 3		 This Week:
@ TEX 3/29
vs. SJ 4/1
vs. ONT 4/2

14tex_500
Playoff chances took a hit that St. John’s may not recover from this week.
Rank: 26
Last Week: 24th
Change: Down 2
Record: 29-29-8-3		 Last Week:
STJ 5 @ RCH 6
STJ 5 @ RCH 3
STJ 3 @ TOR 5		 This Week:
@ TOR 3/29
vs. LV 4/1
vs. LV 4/2

14tex_500
A few more weeks left for the Wolves to play spoiler.
Rank: 27
Last Week: 27th
Change: n/a
Record: 30-30-5-3		 Last Week:
CHA 7 @ CHI 3
CHI 3 @ IA 2
CHI 2 @ IA 1		 This Week:
vs. RFD 3/30
vs. LE 4/1
vs. LE 4/2

14tex_500
Moose tripped up the Heat this week but couldn’t do the same to the Checkers. One more with Charlotte later today then off to Des Moines.
Rank: 28
Last Week: 29th
Change: Up 1
Record: 21-37-4-5		 Last Week:
STK 0 @ MTB 3
STK 2 @ MTB 3
CHA 6 @ MTB 2		 This Week:
vs. CHA 3/28
@ IA 3/30
@ IA 4/1

14tex_500
The easy point grab that is Springfield will likely see more withdrawals this week from the Penguins, Comets, Devils and Sound Tigers.
Rank: 29
Last Week: 25th
Change: Down 4
Record: 23-35-3-5		 Last Week:
SPR 1 @ ALB 4
SPR 3 @ POR 4
SPR 1 @ POR 6		 This Week:
@ WBS 3/29
@ UTI 4/1
@ ALB 4/2
@ BRI 4/3

14tex_500
Close games this week with a just as bad Chicago side.
Rank: 30
Last Week: 28th
Change: Down 2
Record: 21-38-4-4		 Last Week:
CHI 3 @ IA 2
CHI 2 @ IA 1		 This Week:
vs. MTB 3/30
vs. MTB 4/1
@ RFD 4/2

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