Playoff picture getting clearer, or is it? We try to make sense of it all in the Week 23 AHL Power Rankings.

No surprise that Charlotte and Syracuse are the top two teams again this week. Rochester is given their due in third as the leaders of the North Division followed by Belleville, who finally is in the playoff picture formally now and Bakersfield.

Three North Division clubs in the top five this week. Question for you to take away, do you see any of the three beating Charlotte in a seven game series?

Click past the Condors to see where your favorite team ended up this week.

1	Last Week: CHA 2 @ LV 3, CHA 4 @ LV 0
	Split with Lehigh Valley. It’s becoming apparent that the division runs through the Checkers, probably the Conference and likely the entirety of the AHL.
n/a	This Week: vs. RCH 3/15, vs. RCH 3/16, vs. SYR 3/19, vs. SYR 3/20
Record: 39-15-6-1

2	Last Week: UTI 0 @ SYR 4, SYR 3 @ WBS 4 (OT), SYR 4 @ LAV 2
	Is anyone really talking about Syracuse as a Calder Cup favorite? If not, you should be.
n/a	This Week: vs. HFD 3/15, vs. BNG 3/16, @ CHA 3/19, @ CHA 3/20
Record: 38-17-4-2

3	Last Week: BRI 0 @ RCH 5, RCH 5 @ BNG 3, BNG 1 @ RCH 6, UTI 0 @ RCH 3
	Amerks go tops on Syracuse in the division but they have two more games played than the Crunch. Head to North Carolina for a date with the Checkers that Rochester hopes is an Eastern Conference Finals Preview.
+4	This Week: @ CHA 3/15, @ CHA 3/16
Record: 39-18-3-2

4	Last Week: BEL 1 @ CLE 2, BEL 0 @ CLE 4, BEL 5 @ TOR 3
	Knocking on the door of a playoff spot for weeks, now in at the four spot in the North. Game next Wednesday with Utica is looming large,k but let’s not look past Laval looking to play spoiler.
+2	This Week: vs. LAV 3/15, vs. LAV 3/16, vs. UTI 3/20
Record: 31-25-3-4

5	Last Week: BAK 1 @ STK 4, BAK 7 @ SJ 1, SD 5 @ BAK 4 (OT)
	Light week this week, one with Ontario. Three points out of a possible six points last week.
-2	This Week: vs. ONT 3/16
Record: 36-17-3-1

6	Last Week: CHI 4 @ MIL 1, IA 1 @ CHI 4, MIL 1 @ CHI 2 (OT)
	Some separation now for tops in the Central with the Wolves clear by three points now over Grand Rapids. Busy week full of winnable games to keep the gap where it is or extend it.
+5	This Week: vs. CLE 3/15, vs. SA 3/16, @ RFD 3/20
Record: 36-18-5-2

7	Last Week: BRI 0 @ RCH 5, BRI 3 @ TOR 2 (SO)
	OK week for the Sound Tigers, who didn’t really lose ground on Charlotte for the top spot, if things every get that interesting in the Atlantic.
-2	This Week: @ HER 3/16, vs. SPR 3/17, vs. TOR 3/20
Record: 36-19-5-2

8	Last Week: IA 4 @ GR 3 (OT), GR 4 @ MIL 0
	Good week for the Griffs who are on a four game point streak. Busy week coming up.
-4	This Week: vs. RFD 3/15, @ MIL 3/16, @ SA 3/19, @ TEX 3/20
Record: 33-17-6-4

9	Last Week: COL 1 @ SD 0, COL 2 @ SD 0, ONT 1 @ COL 5, ONT 2 @ COL 3 (OT)
	Pulling season from the brink, looks like a successful freshman year in Loveland as the Eagles are a solid four in the Pacific right now and dead even on points (68) with second place San Jose who they meet twice this weekend in California.
+5	This Week: @ SJ 3/16, @ SJ 3/17
Record: 31-22-3-1

10	Last Week: HER 2 @ PRO 3 (SO), HER 3 @ PRO 4 (OT), HER 5 @ HFD 3, SPR 3 @ HER 5
	Hmm…lost to another playoff team (in extra time) and beat two non playoff teams. Are the Bears vulnerable? This week should help clear up the picture some.
-2	This Week: vs. TOR 3/15, vs. BRI 3/16, vs. WBS 3/19
Record: 34-22-2-4

11	Last Week: COL 1 @ SD 0, COL 2 @ SD 0, SD 5 @ BAK 4 (OT)
	Gulls are 6-2-1 against mighty Bakersfield. San Diego may not catch the Condors for the race at the top of the Pacific, but they have proven they can beat them when it counts.
-1	This Week: @ MTB 3/17, @ MTB 3/19
Record: 31-20-3-3

12	Last Week: IA 4 @ GR 3 (OT), IA 1 @ CHI 4, SA 1 @ IA 4
	Staying part of the big three with Grand Rapids and Chicago. Schedule this week is kind, but these kinds of games can be traps.
n/a	This Week: vs. SA 3/15, @ TUC 3/19, @ TUC 3/20
Record: 32-18-7-5

13	Last Week: HFD 3 @ WBS 2 (SO), SYR 3 @ WBS 4 (OT), WBS 4 @ LV 1
	Points in every game this week for the Penguins who have a very important home game Saturday which has to be treated like a playoff game.
+4	This Week: vs. PRO 3/16, vs. TOR 3/17, @ HER 3/19
Record: 29-23-6-3

14	Last Week: TOR 3 @ LAV 0, BRI 3 @ TOR 2 (SO), BEL 5 @ TOR 3
	Defending champs rounding into form, but as this week proves there are still some rough edges to smooth out.
-5	This Week: @ HER 3/15, @ LV 3/16, @ WBS 3/17, @ BRI 3/20
Record: 32-20-5-2

15	Last Week: HER 2 @ PRO 3 (SO), HER 3 @ PRO 4 (OT), SPR 3 @ PRO 1
	Good weekend to solidify a bit the chances of postseason for Providence, sweeping Hershey in impressive fashion.
+4	This Week: @ LV 3/15, @ HER 3/16, @ LAV 3/20
Record: 31-22-7-2

16	Last Week: HFD 3 @ WBS 2 (SO), HFD 3 @ SPR 2 (OT), HER 5 @ HFD 3, BNG 3 @ HFD 4 (OT)
	Action in the Atlantic Division can’t be closed yet because Hartford, in last, still has a punchers chance of a playoff spot still but time is running out and the opponents this week are heavyweights.
n/a	This Week: @ SYR 3/15, @ UTI 3/16
Record: 27-28-6-3

17	Last Week: BAK 7 @ SJ 1, STK 4 @ SJ 5 (SO)
	Shootout win over the Heat seems to cauterize the bleeding a bit for the Barracuda. Dangerous games ahead.
-2	This Week: vs. COL 3/16, vs. COL 3/17
Record: 31-18-2-4

18	Last Week: SPR 3 @ BNG 2, HFD 3 @ SPR 2 (OT), SPR 3 @ PRO 1, SPR 3 @ HER 5
	Actually not a bad week for Springfield who cannot be written off yet but time is running out and they need to make every game count.
+10	This Week: @ UTI 3/15, @ BRI 3/17
Record: 27-24-7-5

19	Last Week: CHA 2 @ LV 3, CHA 4 @ LV 0, WBS 4 @ LV 1
	If we did Power Rankings for just divisional teams, Lehigh Valley would be last in the Atlantic. It has been that type of season for the Phantoms.
-6	This Week: vs. PRO 3/15, vs. TOR 3/16
Record: 30-26-3-3

20	Last Week: UTI 0 @ SYR 4, UTI 3 @ LAV 5, UTI 0 @ RCH 3
	Vulnerable are the Comets who are succumbing to resurgent Belleville and spilling points in a five game losing streak.
-2	This Week: vs. SPR 3/15, vs. HFD 3/16, @ BEL 3/20
Record: 30-26-5-2

21	Last Week: ONT 3 @ TUC 1, ONT 5 @ TUC 2, ONT 1 @ COL 5, ONT 2 @ COL 3 (OT)
	Reign look to have spoiled any chance of Tucson re-establishing a run. One this week against Bakersfield.
+3	This Week: @ BAK 3/16
Record: 21-27-6-2

22	Last Week: BEL 1 @ CLE 2, BEL 0 @ CLE 4, CLE 1 @ MIL 2
	Impressive sweep of Belleville this past weekend. Monsters hanging on to the fringes of North Division contention.
+5	This Week: @ CHI 3/15, @ RFD 3/16
Record: 29-26-6-1

23	Last Week: RFD 1 @ MTB 3, RFD 1 @ MTB 2 (OT), TEX 3 @ MTB 4
	Moose get to 30 wins and are just two points out of a playoff spot with two games in hand. Very important game against that team that occupies that spot Thursday.
+6	This Week: vs. TEX 3/15, vs. SD 3/17, vs. SD 3/19
Record: 30-26-3-2

24	Last Week: TEX 6 @ SA 4, SA 4 @ TEX 7, MTB 3 @ TEX 4
	Are a blah 4-4-1-1 in their last ten and vulnerable to losing the four spot soon if things don’t turn around quick.
-2	This Week: @ MTB 3/15, @ RFD 3/17, vs. GR 3/20
Record: 30-26-4-3

25	Last Week: CHI 4 @ MIL 1, GR 4 @ MIL 0, MIL 1 @ CHI 2 (OT), CLE 1 @ MIL 2
	Much needed two points for Milwaukee Wednesday at home against Cleveland keeps the Admirals playoff hopes alive.
-4	This Week: vs. GR 3/16
Record: 26-24-13-1

26	Last Week: RFD 1 @ MTB 3, RFD 1 @ MTB 2 (OT)
	At a time where every point matters, getting one point on the road over the weekend in Winnipeg is hurting Rockford’s chances at postseason play. Very busy slate this week.
-6	This Week: @ GR 3/15, vs. CLE 3/16, vs. TEX 3/17, vs. CHI 3/20
Record: 27-24-4-6

27	Last Week: BAK 1 @ STK 4, STK 4 @ SJ 5 (SO)
	There points out of the week for a team that is out of it. Tucson comes in on a tail spin this weekend.
-2	This Week: vs. TUC 3/15, vs. TUC 3/16
Record: 25-26-4-2

28	Last Week: TEX 6 @ SA 4, SA 4 @ TEX 7, SA 1 @ IA 4
	Got kind of run around this week and it cost them playoff ground. Schedule is not kind this week.
-5	This Week: @ IA 3/15, @ CHI 3/16, vs. GR 3/19
Record: 27-29-6-0

29	Last Week: ONT 3 @ TUC 1, ONT 5 @ TUC 2
	Roadrunners are slowly fading, winless in seven straight and now more than a few points out of the top four. Busy, dangerous week coming up.
-3	This Week: @ STK 3/15, @ STK 3/16, vs. IA 3/19, vs. IA 3/20
Record: 25-22-5-2

30	Last Week: TOR 3 @ LAV 0, UTI 3 @ LAV 5, LAV 4 @ SYR 2
	Rocket can look to play spoiler for some playoff probable teams from here on out, including the two who are stopping by this week.
n/a	This Week: @ BEL 3/15, @ BEL 3/16, vs. PRO 3/20
Record: 25-27-6-4

31	Last Week: SPR 3 @ BNG 2, RCH 5 @ BNG 3, BNG 1 @ RCH 6, BNG 3 @ HFD 4 (OT)
	Devils core has been stripped away due to injury and call ups. One game this week should hopefully give the bodies time to heal and reinforcements to return, but it’s another lost season on the Southern Tier.
n/a	This Week: @ SYR 3/16
Record: 24-35-5-0

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Have a great week, everyone!