Week 21 has come and gone in the American Hockey League and so has the NHL trade deadline. Some teams re-tooled and the results were immediate and helped in their playoff push this weekend.
There is a new number one at the top of the rankings, as the top five from last week are jumbled up a bit. Click through the jump and see who it is and where your favorite team ended up this week.
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| Lead on the Central looks secure for now. Griffins have games in hand and a few lollipops on the schedule this week. |
Rank: 1
Last Week: 3rd
Change: Up 2
Record: 37-16-1-2 |
Last Week:
GR 1 @ CLE 4
GR 4 @ SA 2
GR 5 @ TEX 2 |
This Week:
@ SA 3/7
@ TEX 3/8
@ SJ 3/11
@ STK 3/12 |
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| San Jose has opens up more of a lead on second place San Diego with an overtime win Sunday. The win streak is a memory, so now they can focus on winning the division. |
Rank: 2
Last Week: 1st
Change: Down 1
Record: 34-12-1-4 |
Last Week:
TEX 2 @ SJ 1 (SO)
SJ 2 @ STK 4
SD 3 @ SJ 4 (OT) |
This Week:
@ SD 3/8
vs. GR 3/11
vs. SD 3/12 |
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| Gulls get another crack at the Barracuda twice this week and can inch closer to the pinnacle of the Pacific. |
Rank: 3
Last Week: 2nd
Change: Down 1
Record: 32-14-3-2 |
Last Week:
SD 5 @ TUC 3
TUC 1 @ SD 4
SD 3 @ SJ 4 (OT) |
This Week:
vs. SJ 3/8
vs. TUC 3/10
@ SJ 3/12 |
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| 5 of 6 points this week for Milwaukee. Start printing those playoff tickets. |
Rank: 4
Last Week: 4th
Change: n/a
Record: 33-18-3-3 |
Last Week:
MIL 5 @ CHA 2
MIL 4 @ CHA 5 (SO)
MTB 2 @ MIL 3 (OT) |
This Week:
vs. CLE 3/8
vs. RFD 3/10
vs. CHI 3/11 |
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| Penguins finally find the offense Sunday in Hartford. Two tough opponents on the schedule this week, I’ll let you decide who I am referring to. |
Rank: 5
Last Week: 6th
Change: Up 1
Record: 39-16-3-0 |
Last Week:
WBS 1 @ HER 2
WBS 6 @ HFD 3 |
This Week:
vs. LV 3/8
vs. HFD 3/10
vs. PRO 3/11 |
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| Up to second in the Atlantic with a date with the leaders this Saturday in Wilkes-Barre. |
Rank: 6
Last Week: 7th
Change: Up 1
Record: 34-15-5-4 |
Last Week:
ALB 4 @ PRO 3
LV 3 @ PRO 7 |
This Week:
@ BRI 3/7
@ WBS 3/11
@ HER 3/12 |
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| Wolves in a dead heat with the Griffins on points but Grand Rapids remains with three games in hand. |
Rank: 7
Last Week: 9th
Change: Up 2
Record: 35-17-4-3 |
Last Week:
CLE 3 @ CHI 7
MTB 4 @ CHI 5 |
This Week:
vs. CLE 3/9
@ MIL 3/11 |
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| We keep hearing about fake news in this day and age. The Crunch are playing like a fake division leader. |
Rank: 8
Last Week: 5th
Change: Down 3
Record: 29-19-5-5 |
Last Week:
HER 5 @ SYR 1
BNG 1 @ SYR 4
SYR 4 @ BNG 6 |
This Week:
vs. STJ 3/8
vs. SPR 3/10
vs. STJ 3/11 |
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| The last thing the Phantoms want is a 2-3 matchup against Providence in the playoffs. |
Rank: 9
Last Week: 12th
Change: Up 3
Record: 36-18-3-0 |
Last Week:
LV 5 @ SPR 4
LV 3 @ HFD 1
LV 3 @ PRO 7 |
This Week:
@ WBS 3/8
vs. HER 3/10
vs. UTI 3/11 |
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| Another week and yep, the Devils are still in second in the North chasing the Crunch who, try as they might, still can’t hand off the top spot in the North to someone, anyone. |
Rank: 10
Last Week: 11th
Change: Up 1
Record: 32-25-1-1 |
Last Week:
ALB 4 @ PRO 3
ALB 0 @ UTI 3 |
This Week:
@ BNG 3/10
@ BRI 3/11 |
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| Bears sweep the weekend because they actually have something that resembles a goaltender in Phoenix Copley, who they reacquired at the NHL trade deadline. |
Rank: 11
Last Week: 19th
Change: Up 8
Record: 31-17-8-3 |
Last Week:
HER 5 @ SYR 1
WBS 1 @ HER 2
SPR 2 @ HER 4 |
This Week:
@ LV 3/10
@ BNG 3/11
vs. PRO 3/12 |
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| Comets sweep the weekend and are in the playoff discussion as we head into the first full week of March. They have a bit of a gauntlet this week. |
Rank: 12
Last Week: 20th
Change: Up 8
Record: 26-23-7-2 |
Last Week:
BNG 2 @ UTI 5
ALB 0 @ UTI 3
BRI 1 @ UTI 2 |
This Week:
vs. BRI 3/10
@ LV 3/11
vs. BNG 3/12 |
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| Six wins in a row for Bakersfield who are now a part of the playoff discussion. How many wins in a row can the Condors get to? |
Rank: 13
Last Week: 16th
Change: Up 3
Record: 25-20-5-1 |
Last Week:
TEX 0 @ BAK 5
BAK 5 @ CHA 2
BAK 7 @ CHA 2 |
This Week:
@ STK 3/8
vs. ONT 3/10
vs. STK 3/11 |
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| Bad weekend for Bridgeport. Has the ship sprung a leak? |
Rank: 14
Last Week: 8th
Change: Down 6
Record: 35-19-2-1 |
Last Week:
BRI 4 @ TOR 3 (OT)
BRI 3 @ RCH 4 (OT)
BRI 1 @ UTI 2 |
This Week:
vs. PRO 3/7
@ UTI 3/10
vs. ALB 3/11
vs. HFD 3/12 |
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| Split with St. John’s this week. This shouldn’t halt the run of form that the Marlies have been on recently, will it? |
Rank: 15
Last Week: 10th
Change: Down 5
Record: 30-24-4-1 |
Last Week:
BRI 4 @ TOR 3 (OT)
STJ 1 @ TOR 3
STJ 3 @ TOR 0 |
This Week:
@ RCH 3/8
@ MTB 3/12 |
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| One game this week which the Wild won. Iowa is looking more and more like a playoff contender. |
Rank: 16
Last Week: 18th
Change: Up 2
Record: 27-23-6-2 |
Last Week:
IA 2 @ RFD 1 |
This Week:
@ TEX 3/10
@ TEX 3/11 |
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| Ontario doesn’t make any ground on second place in the division with a pair of losses this week. |
Rank: 17
Last Week: 13th
Change: Down 4
Record: 29-16-8-0 |
Last Week:
ONT 2 @ STK 6
STK 1 @ ONT 2
TUC 2 @ ONT 1 |
This Week:
@ BAK 3/10
vs. TUC 3/11
vs. TUC 3/12 |
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| Split with the Reign then did something no other team his done in 15+ games and that’s beat the San Jose Barracuda in regulation. |
Rank: 18
Last Week: 22nd
Change: Up 4
Record: 23-23-4-1 |
Last Week:
ONT 2 @ STK 6
STK 1 @ ONT 2
SJ 2 @ STK 4 |
This Week:
vs. BAK 3/8
@ BAK 3/11
vs. GR 3/12 |
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| Three teams in the mix for the final playoff spot in the Pacific Division and Tucson is one of those teams. Should make for a fun final quarter. |
Rank: 19
Last Week: 24th
Change: Up 5
Record: 23-22-6-0 |
Last Week:
SD 5 @ TUC 3
TUC 1 @ SD 4
TUC 2 @ ONT 1 |
This Week:
vs. SD 3/10
vs. ONT 3/11
vs. ONT 3/12 |
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| Split with Toronto and face a pesky push from a Comets side for the final spot in the North Division. |
Rank: 20
Last Week: 15th
Change: Down 5
Record: 27-24-7-1 |
Last Week:
STJ 3 @ RCH 0
STJ 1 @ TOR 3
STJ 3 @ TOR 0 |
This Week:
@ SYR 3/8
@ RCH 3/10
@ SYR 3/11 |
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| Charlotte isn’t going to make playoffs if they keep with these weekends. |
Rank: 21
Last Week: 14th
Change: Down 7
Record: 26-27-4-0 |
Last Week:
MIL 5 @ CHA 2
MIL 4 @ CHA 5 (SO)
BAK 5 @ CHA 2
BAK 7 @ CHA 2 |
This Week:
@ MTB 3/9
@ MTB 3/10 |
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| Moose are eight points out of a playoff spot now, but we here at the Politburo don’t take Manitoba as serious contenders this late in the season. |
Rank: 22
Last Week: 27th
Change: Up 5
Record: 23-28-4-4 |
Last Week:
MTB 5 @ RFD 3
MTB 5 @ RFD 3
MTB 2 @ MIL 3 (OT)
MTB 4 @ CHI 5 |
This Week:
vs. CHA 3/9
vs. CHA 3/10
vs. TOR 3/12 |
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| Amerks do something that isn’t done very often and that’s beat Jaroslav Halak of Bridgeport. |
Rank: 23
Last Week: 28th
Change: Up 5
Record: 23-32-0-2 |
Last Week:
STJ 3 @ RCH 0
BRI 3 @ RCH 4 (OT) |
This Week:
vs. TOR 3/8
vs. STJ 3/10
@ SPR 3/12 |
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| Thunderbirds come back down to earth with some losses in Pennsylvania against the Phantoms and Bears. |
Rank: 24
Last Week: 17th
Change: Down 7
Record: 22-27-8-2 |
Last Week:
SPR 3 @ HFD 4 (OT)
LV 5 @ SPR 4
SPR 2 @ HER 4 |
This Week:
@ SYR 3/10
vs. HFD 3/11
vs. RCH 3/12 |
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| Well, the neat little win streak the IceHogs had a new weeks back is a distant memory. |
Rank: 25
Last Week: 21st
Change: Down 4
Record: 21-29-8-3 |
Last Week:
MTB 5 @ RFD 3
MTB 5 @ RFD 3
IA 2 @ RFD 1 |
This Week:
@ MIL 3/10 |
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| Senators salvage another sorry weekend with a win against Syracuse at home Sunday. They will be playing upset from here on out. |
Rank: 26
Last Week: 26th
Change: n/a
Record: 24-32-2-1 |
Last Week:
BNG 2 @ UTI 5
BNG 1 @ SYR 4
SYR 4 @ BNG 6 |
This Week:
vs. ALB 3/10
vs. HER 3/11
@ UTI 3/12 |
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| Hartford put up a good fight with the Penguins Sunday, get another crack at the division leaders this Friday. |
Rank: 27
Last Week: 29th
Change: Up 2
Record: 21-32-3-2 |
Last Week:
SPR 3 @ HFD 4 (OT)
LV 3 @ HFD 1
WBS 6 @ HFD 3 |
This Week:
@ WBS 3/10
@ SPR 3/11
@ BRI 3/12 |
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| Stars are the first team in a while to hand the Barracuda a loss this week, but it is becoming clearer day by day that Texas may not have any representation in the Pacific Division Playoffs in about 45 days. |
Rank: 28
Last Week: 25th
Change: Down 3
Record: 26-27-1-2 |
Last Week:
TEX 0 @ BAK 5
TEX 2 @ SJ 1 (SO)
GR 5 @ TEX 2
TEX 6 @ SA 2 |
This Week:
vs. GR 3/8
vs. IA 3/10
vs. IA 3/11 |
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| Monsters have to push hard if they want to make playoffs. Losing 7-3 to a playoff team in Chicago will not do the trick. |
Rank: 29
Last Week: 23rd
Change: Down 6
Record: 25-24-3-4 |
Last Week:
GR 1 @ CLE 4
CLE 3 @ CHI 7 |
This Week:
@ MIL 3/8
@ CHI 3/9
@ SA 3/12 |
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| 11 games without a win, longest streak since 2012-13. LOLRampage. |
Rank: 30
Last Week: 30th
Change: n/a
Record: 21-31-4-1 |
Last Week:
GR 4 @ SA 2
TEX 6 @ SA 2 |
This Week:
vs. GR 3/7
vs. CLE 3/12 |
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Have a great week, everyone!
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