Chirps from Center Ice
A fan blog about the AHL's Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins
AHL Power Rankings: Week 26
Posted by on April 4, 2016
There are two weeks left in the AHL regular season and still a lot to be decided for the 2016 Calder Cup Playoffs.
Seven teams have qualified. There are nine spots left; five in the East and four in the West.
Crossovers. Percentages. Games in hand. We try to make sense of it all in the Week 26 version of the Chirps from Center Ice AHL Power Rankings.
Hit the jump if you didn’t link in direct.
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| Tuning up for playoffs as the odds on favorite to win it all. There does not appear to be a team that can stop this Marlies side. | ||
| Rank: 1 Last Week: 1st Change: n/a Record: 50-15-5-0 |
Last Week: STJ 0 @ TOR 4 TOR 4 @ SYR 3 GR 3 @ TOR 6 |
This Week: vs. LE 4/8 @ SYR 4/9 @ ALB 4/10 |
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| The two losses to the Barracuda shouldn’t be alarming. San Jose is in desperation mode while the Reign are just trying to stay as healthy they can be in defense of their Calder Cup. | ||
| Rank: 2 Last Week: 2nd Change: n/a Record: 41-17-4-1 |
Last Week: ONT 1 @ SJ 3 ONT 2 @ SJ 3 ONT 2 @ BAK 0 |
This Week: @ STK 4/6 vs. BAK 4/8 @ BAK 4/9 |
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| Milwaukee is back in the playoffs and are gunning towards a Central Division title. | ||
| Rank: 3 Last Week: 4th Change: Up 1 Record: 43-21-3-2 |
Last Week: GR 1 @ MIL 4 SA 1 @ MIL 2 |
This Week: @ MTB 4/5 @ MTB 4/6 @ CHA 4/9 @ CHA 4/10 |
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| Bears are the first team in the Atlantic Division to lock up a spot in the Calder Cup Playoffs. Two this week with rival Wilkes-Barre and can really put distance on them and the rest of the field for the Atlantic Division crown. | ||
| Rank: 4 Last Week: 5th Change: Up 1 Record: 39-19-5-7 |
Last Week: HER 1 @ HFD 5 HER 4 @ PRO 3 (SO) HER 1 @ PRO 2 (OT) |
This Week: vs. BRI 4/8 vs. WBS 4/9 @ WBS 4/10 |
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| Punched their playoff ticket this weekend. This team is going to be one to watch. | ||
| Rank: 5 Last Week: 6th Change: Up 1 Record: 39-21-5-5 |
Last Week: LE 4 @ CHI 3 LE 4 @ CHI 1 |
This Week: @ TOR 4/8 @ RCH 4/9 vs. RCH 4/10 |
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| Big week for Portland. The Pirates are winners of seven of their last eight and are making themselves solid contenders for the Calder Cup. | ||
| Rank: 6 Last Week: 13th Change: Up 7 Record: 38-25-5-2 |
Last Week: POR 2 @ BRI 5 PRO 0 @ POR 2 POR 4 @ HFD 1 POR 5 @ WBS 3 |
This Week: @ PRO 4/8 vs. PRO 4/9 vs. HFD 4/10 |
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| Devils are just fine tuning things until a few weeks when it starts to matter to them again. | ||
| Rank: 7 Last Week: 8th Change: Up 1 Record: 42-18-8-2 |
Last Week: HFD 0 @ ALB 3 ALB 2 @ BNG 1 (OT) SPR 5 @ ALB 4 BNG 0 @ ALB 3 |
This Week: @ SYR 4/8 @ BNG 4/9 vs. TOR 4/10 |
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| Griffins sew up a spot for the Calder Cup Playoffs. You probably don’t want to face this team. | ||
| Rank: 8 Last Week: 9th Change: Up 1 Record: 43-25-1-1 |
Last Week: GR 1 @ MIL 4 GR 6 @ RCH 1 GR 3 @ TOR 6 GR 5 @ RCH 2 |
This Week: vs. CHI 4/8 @ CHI 4/9 |
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| San Diego is probably next in line to lock up a spot in the Calder Cup Playoffs this weekend in the West. This is a strong, underrated team. | ||
| Rank: 9 Last Week: 10th Change: Up 1 Record: 36-22-3-2 |
Last Week: SD 4 @ STK 2 SJ 3 @ SD 5 STK 2 @ SD 1 (OT) |
This Week: vs. BAK 4/6 @ STK 4/9 @ STK 4/10 |
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| Stars split with a desperate Charlotte team. Host the Barracuda in for a pair this week who are even more desperate. | ||
| Rank: 10 Last Week: 12th Change: Up 2 Record: 38-24-7-3 |
Last Week: BAK 1 @ TEX 5 TEX 3 @ CHA 6 TEX 4 @ CHA 3 (SO) |
This Week: vs. SJ 4/8 vs. SJ 4/9 |
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| Split a pair and gave away points to Hershey this weekend. Now a pair with Portland who the Bruins are battling for playoff seeding. | ||
| Rank: 11 Last Week: 3rd Change: Down 8 Record: 36-21-9-4 |
Last Week: PRO 0 @ POR 2 HER 4 @ PRO 3 (SO) HER 1 @ PRO 2 (OT) |
This Week: vs. POR 4/8 @ POR 4/9 @ SPR 4/10 |
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| Sound Tigers clearly out of gas Sunday at home against Springfield. Probably not a death knell for Bridgeport but there is little margin for error. | ||
| Rank: 12 Last Week: 14th Change: Up 2 Record: 38-25-4-3 |
Last Week: POR 2 @ BRI 5 BRI 5 @ WBS 2 SPR 3 @ BRI 1 |
This Week: @ HER 4/8 @ LV 4/9 vs. LV 4/10 |
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| We think that Charlotte makes it as the last playoff team. They may claim the final spot available. | ||
| Rank: 13 Last Week: 15th Change: Up 2 Record: 34-27-3-5 |
Last Week: CHA 1 @ MTB 2 TEX 3 @ CHA 6 TEX 4 @ CHA 3 (SO) |
This Week: vs. RFD 4/5 vs. RFD 4/6 vs. MIL 4/9 vs. MIL 4/10 |
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| Major steps taken to sewing up the three seed in the North and not getting bumped out of the playoffs by an Atlantic Division crossover team. | ||
| Rank: 14 Last Week: 19th Change: Up 5 Record: 35-24-7-4 |
Last Week: RCH 2 @ UTI 3 SPR 2 @ UTI 5 UTI 4 @ BNG 1 SYR 7 @ UTI 3 |
This Week: vs. BNG 4/6 @ STJ 4/9 @ STJ 4/10 |
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| Penguins are getting exposed as a one-dimensional hockey team. Are on track to sew up their 14th straight trip to the Playoffs, but may be the first team dismissed. | ||
| Rank: 15 Last Week: 7th Change: Down 8 Record: 41-24-4-1 |
Last Week: SPR 3 @ WBS 4 BRI 5 @ WBS 2 POR 5 @ WBS 3 |
This Week: vs. LV 4/8 @ HER 4/9 vs. HER 4/10 |
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| Phantoms looking to end a season that was full of hope in October on a winning final two weeks. | ||
| Rank: 16 Last Week: 23rd Change: Up 7 Record: 31-32-4-3 |
Last Week: LV 4 @ STJ 1 LV 4 @ STJ 0 |
This Week: @ WBS 4/8 vs. BRI 4/9 @ BRI 4/10 |
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| Heat are giving teams fits in the closing weeks. Could be a building block on a solid season next year. | ||
| Rank: 17 Last Week: 22nd Change: Up 5 Record: 30-28-2-2 |
Last Week: SD 4 @ STK 2 ONT 2 @ STK 3 STK 2 @ SD 1 (OT) |
This Week: vs. ONT 4/6 vs. SD 4/9 vs. SD 4/10 |
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| Playoff hopes are on life support with two weeks remaining in the regular season. | ||
| Rank: 18 Last Week: 11th Change: Down 7 Record: 37-30-3-0 |
Last Week: HFD 0 @ ALB 3 HER 1 @ HFD 5 POR 4 @ HFD 1 |
This Week: @ SPR 4/8 vs. SPR 4/9 @ POR 4/10 |
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| Rockford is sliding. Not anything to be concerned about playoff wise, but they need to close out these final two weeks with all the momentum on their side. | ||
| Rank: 19 Last Week: 18th Change: Down 1 Record: 36-20-9-4 |
Last Week: RFD 1 @ CHI 0 SA 5 @ RFD 2 IA 4 @ RFD 3 (OT) |
This Week: @ CHA 4/5 @ CHA 4/6 @ MTB 4/9 @ MTB 4/10 |
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| Two this weekend with the North Division leaders. This is make or break for Syracuse. | ||
| Rank: 20 Last Week: 16th Change: Down 4 Record: 31-27-10-3 |
Last Week: TOR 4 @ SYR 3 RCH 5 @ SYR 1 SYR 7 @ UTI 3 |
This Week: vs. ALB 4/8 vs. TOR 4/9 |
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| Barracuda head to Texas for a pair against the Stars and one with the Rampage with their playoff lives on the line. | ||
| Rank: 21 Last Week: 20th Change: Down 1 Record: 29-24-7-3 |
Last Week: ONT 1 @ SJ 3 SJ 2 @ BAK 4 SJ 3 @ SD 5 |
This Week: @ SA 4/6 @ TEX 4/8 @ TEX 4/9 |
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| Rampage look to close out a disappointing season in a high note in these final two weeks. | ||
| Rank: 22 Last Week: 17th Change: Down 5 Record: 29-34-8-0 |
Last Week: SA 5 @ RFD 2 SA 1 @ MIL 2 |
This Week: vs. SJ 4/6 vs. IA 4/8 vs. IA 4/9 |
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| Falcons string together a pair of wins this weekend over Albany who is a playoff team and Bridgeport who are battling to play their way in. | ||
| Rank: 23 Last Week: 29th Change: Up 6 Record: 25-37-3-5 |
Last Week: SPR 3 @ WBS 4 SPR 2 @ UTI 5 SPR 5 @ ALB 4 SPR 3 @ BRI 1 |
This Week: vs. HFD 4/8 @ HFD 4/9 vs. PRO 4/10 |
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| This weekend really stung Rochester. Swept by old rivals Grand Rapids and lost to Utica who the Amerks are pursuing for the third spot in the North. This weekend isn’t going to be any easier. | ||
| Rank: 24 Last Week: 21st Change: Down 3 Record: 33-34-2-1 |
Last Week: RCH 2 @ UTI 3 GR 6 @ RCH 1 RCH 5 @ SYR 1 GR 5 @ RCH 2 |
This Week: vs. BNG 4/8 vs. LE 4/9 @ LE 4/10 |
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| Consider this week the Condors last stand. If they are making a push to playoffs, this has to be it. They need wins. | ||
| Rank: 25 Last Week: 25th Change: n/a Record: 28-26-6-2 |
Last Week: BAK 1 @ TEX 5 SJ 2 @ BAK 4 ONT 2 @ BAK 0 |
This Week: @ SD 4/6 @ ONT 4/8 vs. SD 4/9 |
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| The IceCaps were never a serious playoff threat, their elimination was made formal this weekend. | ||
| Rank: 26 Last Week: 26th Change: n/a Record: 29-32-8-3 |
Last Week: STJ 0 @ TOR 4 LV 4 @ STJ 1 LV 4 @ STJ 0 |
This Week: vs. UTI 4/9 vs. UTI 4/10 |
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| Wild aren’t laying down and giving away points. There is still fight in this Iowa side. | ||
| Rank: 27 Last Week: 30th Change: Up 3 Record: 22-39-5-4 |
Last Week: MTB 3 @ IA 2 MTB 2 @ IA 4 IA 4 @ RFD 3 (OT) |
This Week: @ SA 4/8 @ SA 4/9 |
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| Teams will be looking or more withdrawals on a Binghamton team that has been eliminated and out of it for months. | ||
| Rank: 28 Last Week: 24th Change: Down 4 Record: 27-36-6-1 |
Last Week: ALB 2 @ BNG 1 (OT) UTI 4 @ BNG 1 BNG 0 @ ALB 3 |
This Week: @ UTI 4/6 @ RCH 4/8 vs. ALB 4/9 |
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| Moose split a pair with the Wild in the battle of last place overall in the AHL. | ||
| Rank: 29 Last Week: 28th Change: Down 1 Record: 23-38-4-5 |
Last Week: CHA 1 @ MTB 2 MTB 3 @ IA 2 MTB 2 @ IA 4 |
This Week: vs. MIL 4/5 vs. MIL 4/6 vs. RFD 4/9 vs. RFD 4/10 |
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| Disappointing end to a disappointing season for the Wolves. | ||
| Rank: 30 Last Week: 27th Change: Down 3 Record: 30-33-5-3 |
Last Week: RFD 1 @ CHI 0 LE 4 @ CHI 3 LE 4 @ CHI 1 |
This Week: @ GR 4/8 vs. GR 4/9 |
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Comments are open.
Chirps from Center Ice 
I hope Bridgeport isn’t losing steam they beat up the Pens pretty good the other day. Magic number is 7 though, So 3 wins and a OT. on a really hard schedule.