It’s the middle of December and while it is cold outside, some AHL teams are staying hot or heating up. Some who started hot have cooled off.

It is business as usual at the top of the heap. The Tucson Roadrunners are making it look easy, the Milwaukee Admirals are running away with the Central, the Toronto Marlies and Rochester Americans are playing a game of leapfrog and the Hartford Wolf Pack are back, jack.

Go past Hartford if you didn’t link in direct to see where your favorite team ended up this week.

1	Last Games: TUC 2 @ SD 6, COL 3 @ TUC 6, COL 1 @ TUC 2, TUC 4 @ IA 1, TUC 2 @ IA 0
	I feel like, because they play in a division that plays 68 games, that teams in the Pacific don’t get enough respect from a league wide basis. Tucson is one of these teams. Playing at nearly an .800 clip, the Roadrunners are an elite side.
+2	Next Games: @ SA 12/13, @ TEX 12/14, vs. ONT 12/20, vs. ONT 12/21
Record: 19-5-0-0

2	Last Games: MIL 4 @ SA 3 (OT), MIL 2 @ TEX 1 (OT), MIL 1 @ TEX 5, IA 1 @ MIL 7, MIL 5 @ RFD 2, MIL 1 @ RFD 2 (OT)
	Admirals yield the top spot to the Tucson Roadrunners for now. Milwaukee is running away with the Central, so as the trend continues, the Admirals should be back at the top soon.
-1	Next Games: vs. CHI 12/13, @ CHI 12/14, vs. SA 12/18, vs. CLE 12/20
Record: 19-4-2-2

3	Last Games: TOR 3 @ ROC 2 (OT), UTI 4 @ TOR 3, UTI 3 @ TOR 5, TOR 0 @ ROC 4, SA 2 @ TOR 3, SA 1 @ TOR 4, TOR 4 @ UTI 6
	Marlies stay ahead of the busy North through a coaching change. Not a lot of games for Toronto between now and Christmas.
-1	Next Games: vs. BEL 12/14, vs. RFD 12/15, @ BEL 12/21
Record: 17-5-2-1

4	Last Games: TOR 3 @ ROC 2 (OT), ROC 3 @ CLE 2, TOR 0 @ ROC 4, CHA 0 @ ROC 4, CHA 3 @ ROC 1, WBS 2 @ ROC 4
	Amerks had a 12 game point streak come to an end against Charlotte last weekend, but that was a minor bump in the road, they outclassed Wilkes-Barre on Wednesday. Play like this, it won’t be long till Rochester gets to the top of the North.
n/a	Next Games: @ LAV 12/13, @ LAV 12/14, @ BNG 12/18, vs. BNG 12/20, vs. UTI 12/21
Record: 16-4-2-2

5	Last Games: HFD 1 @ LV 2 (OT), HFD 3 @ HER 4 (OT), HFD 5 @ SPR 2, BNG 2 @ HFD 5, HFD 4 @ PRO 1, BNG 1 @ HFD 3
	Full marks to the Wolf Pack for picking themselves off the mat and back to the top of the Atlantic Division. Should be interesting to watch Hartford in this position.
+4	Next Games: vs. LV 12/13, @ LV 12/14, @ CHA 12/17, @ CHA 12/18, vs. PRO 12/21
Record: 15-4-2-5

6	Last Games: STK 2 @ COL 5, STK 5 @ COL 4 (OT), ONT 3 @ STK 2, BAK 3 @ STK 7, STK 3 @ ONT 2 (OT)
	Use a great stretch here to get some separation in the Pacific, but it’s still Tucson’s race at this point.
n/a	Next Games: @ SJ 12/14, vs. SJ 12/15, vs. IA 12/18, @ SD 12/21
Record: 15-5-1-2

7	Last Games: PRO 4 @ CHA 1, PRO 4 @ CHA 0, BNG 2 @ PRO 6, UTI 2 @ PRO 3 (SO), HFD 4 @ PRO 1, SYR 4 @ PRO 1
	Hot start to December, but have cooled off and the Wolf Pack took over the division lead from Providence. Tough games coming up for the P-Bruins here in the short term.
-2	Next Games: @ SPR 12/14, vs. SPR 12/15, @ WBS 12/18, @ WBS 12/20, @ HFD 12/21
Record: 16-9-1-2

8	Last Games: LAV 4 @ SYR 2, SYR 4 @ BNG 3 (OT), CHA 5 @ SYR 1, LAV 2 @ SYR 5, BRI 2 @ SYR 5, SYR 4 @ PRO 1
	Crunch have won three straight and are 7-3 in their last ten. They are quietly plodding along. Schedule sets them up for a bit of a push here before Christmas.
+3	Next Games: @ CHA 12/13, @ CHA 12/14, @ BRI 12/18, vs. BEL 12/20, vs. BNG 12/21
Record: 14-9-2-0

9	Last Games: BEL 6 @ BNG 2, BEL 3 @ HER 1, CLE 6 @ BEL 2, CLE 1 @ BEL 7
	Belleville are a quiet 7-3 in their last ten, and that has them in the thick of it in the North Division.
+3	Next Games: vs. RFD 12/13, @ TOR 12/14, vs. UTI 12/18, @ SYR 12/20, vs. TOR 12/21
Record: 14-9-1-0

10	Last Games: CHI 2 @ RFD 4, GR 1 @ RFD 3, MB 2 @ RFD 4, RFD 2 @ GR 1 (SO), MIL 5 @ RFD 2, MIL 1 @ RFD 2 (OT)
	Look at Rockford, making a run and up to second in a Central which Milwaukee has run away with. They head East this week and only play one divisional team before Christmas.
+4	Next Games: @ BEL 12/13, @ TOR 12/15, @ LAV 12/17, vs. TEX 12/20, vs. CLE 12/21
Record: 14-9-0-1

11	Last Games: BEL 3 @ HER 1, HFD 3 @ HER 4 (OT), HER 2 @ LV 1, LV 0 @ HER 1, WBS 3 @ HER 2 (OT)
	Bears aren’t waiting like they did last year for the New Year to turn a corner, they may have hit it. Three tough wins this past weekend all against in-state rivals have Hershey right back in the discussion in the Atlantic. Four games before the Christmas without having to leave home.
+8	Next Games: vs. BRI 12/14, vs. LV 12/15, vs. SPR 12/21, vs. SPR 12/22
Record: 12-9-2-3

12	Last Games: LAV 4 @ SYR 2, LAV 3 @ SPR 6, CLE 2 @ LAV 3, LAV 2 @ SYR 5, LAV 4 @ SPR 3, CLE 2 @ LAV 3 (SO)
	Rocket look to keep above the line in the North against some stiffer pre-Christmas opponents.
-4	Next Games: vs. ROC 12/13, vs. ROC 12/14, vs. RFD 12/17, @ UTI 12/20
Record: 15-10-3-0

13	Last Games: IA 3 @ TEX 4, MIL 2 @ TEX 1 (OT), MIL 1 @ TEX 5, TEX 4 @ WBS 3, TEX 5 @ WBS 3, MB 1 @ TEX 3
	There may not be another team in the AHL as hot as the Stars right now who look like they can beat any team. That Saturday game with Tucson is circled on my calendar.
+18	Next Games: vs. MB 12/13, vs. TUC 12/14, @ RFD 12/20, @ CHI 12/21, @ CHI 12/22
Record: 10-13-1-2

14	Last Games: SPR 1 @ BRI 4, LAV 3 @ SPR 6, LV 1 @ SPR 3, HFD 5 @ SPR 2, LAV 4 @ SPR 3
	Depending on how the goaltender plays, so go the Springfield Thunderbirds. It is that position that is keeping the Thunderbirds in the discussion here in mid-December.
+1	Next Games: vs. BNG 12/13, vs. PRO 12/14, @ PRO 12/15, vs. BRI 12/20, @ HER 12/21, @ HER 12/22
Record: 14-13-0-0

15	Last Games: WBS 5 @ LV 6 (OT), BRI 2 @ WBS 5, TEX 4 @ WBS 3, TEX 5 @ WBS 3, WBS 3 @ HER 2 (OT), WBS 2 @ ROC 4
	A 9-2-1-1 November and the calendar flips to December and the Penguins are 0-3-1. Five games before Christmas, winnable games we think?
-8	Next Games: @ CLE 12/13, @ CLE 12/14, vs. PRO 12/18, vs. PRO 12/20, @ BRI 12/21
Record: 13-9-3-1

16	Last Games: SD 1 @ ONT 2, ONT 1 @ BAK 3, ONT 3 @ STK 2, SJ 9 @ ONT 2, SJ 4 @ ONT 5 (SO), STK 3 @ ONT 2 (OT)
	Reign are good, not great, right now. Record would indicate as such. Busy stretch here before Christmas.
+10	Next Games: vs. IA 12/14, vs. IA 12/15, @ SJ 12/18, @ TUC 12/20, @ TUC 12/21
Record: 11-11-3-0

17	Last Games: IA 3 @ TEX 4, IA 3 @ SA 2, IA 1 @ SA 5, IA 1 @ MIL 7, TUC 4 @ IA 1, TUC 2 @ IA 0
	Missing Kaapo Kahkonen in goal is one thing, but he doesn’t score goals. Iowa has scored just three goals in their last four games. Offense is drying up, starting G is in Minnesota, problems brewing in Des Moines.
-7	Next Games: @ ONT 12/14, @ ONT 12/15, @ STK 12/18, vs. GR 12/20, vs. GR 12/21
Record: 12-10-2-2

18	Last Games: UTI 4 @ TOR 3, UTI 3 @ TOR 5, BRI 5 @ TOR 4 (SO), UTI 2 @ PRO 3 (SO), UTI 6 @ BRI 3, TOR 4 @ UTI 6
	Comets with a good win Wednesday against Toronto. Don’t count Utica out at all. Winnable games here should keep Utica in the upper half of the North Division.
+4	Next Games: vs. BRI 12/13, @ BNG 12/14, @ BEL 12/18, vs. LAV 12/20, @ ROC 12/21
Record: 15-8-1-2

19	Last Games: PRO 4 @ CHA 1, PRO 4 @ CHA 0, CHA 5 @ SYR 1, CHA 0 @ ROC 4, CHA 3 @ ROC 1
	Were roughed up by the Bruins and split a pair in Rochester. It’s been that kind of season for Charlotte and at this point we don’t see any end to it. Next six games are all at home.
+6	Next Games: vs. SYR 12/13, vs. SYR 12/14, vs. HFD 12/17, vs. HFD 12/18, vs. LV 12/21, vs. LV 12/22
Record: 10-11-3-0

20	Last Games: MB 4 @ GR 2, MB 3 @ CHI 2 (OT), MB 2 @ RFD 4, CHI 1 @ MB 3, CHI 4 @ MB 2, MB 1 @ TEX 3
	Cold start, heated up, now leveling off again. 5-5 in their last ten are the Moose, catching teams on runs like Rockford, Chicago and Texas. Busy days for Manitoba heading into Christmas.
-7	Next Games: @ TEX 12/13, @ SA 12/14, @ COL 12/17, @ COL 12/18, vs. SA 12/21, vs. SA 12/22
Record: 13-14-0-0

21	Last Games: ROC 3 @ CLE 2, CLE 2 @ LAV 3, CLE 6 @ BEL 2, CLE 1 @ BEL 7, CLE 2 @ LAV 3 (SO)
	Monsters are struggling with consistency, plain and simple.
-4	Next Games: vs. WBS 12/13, vs. WBS 12/14, @ MIL 12/20, @ RFD 12/21
Record: 12-11-1-2

22	Last Games: STK 2 @ COL 5, STK 5 @ COL 4 (OT), COL 3 @ TUC 6, COL 1 @ TUC 2, COL 3 @ SD 4 (OT)
	Eagles are winless in their last four against solid competition, have played blah hockey and the .500 record here in mid-December shows it.
-4	Next Games: vs. SD 12/13, vs. SD 12/14, vs. MB 12/17, vs. MB 12/18, vs. BAK 12/21, vs. BAK 12/22
Record: 10-10-2-0

23	Last Games: MB 4 @ GR 2, GR 1 @ RFD 3, CHI 5 @ GR 2, RFD 2 @ GR 1 (SO), GR 4 @ SD 3
	Griffins haven’t been good, and this long road trip here out West they are currently on against some decent Pacific clubs is going to be a great test of mettle.
-2	Next Games: @ BAK 12/13, @ BAK 12/14, @ SD 12/17, @ IA 12/20, @ IA 12/21
Record: 10-13-1-2

24	Last Games: WBS 5 @ LV 6 (OT), HFD 1 @ LV 2 (OT), LV 1 @ SPR 3, HER 2 @ LV 1, LV 0 @ HER 1
	Played a brutal, physical weekend series with the Bears. Are a .500 team with a lot of key guys out. Schedule doesn’t relent before Christmas.
-4	Next Games: @ HFD 12/13, vs. HFD 12/14, @ HER 12/15, @ CHA 12/21, @ CHA 12/22
Record: 10-10-1-4

25	Last Games: CHI 2 @ RFD 4, MB 3 @ CHI 2 (OT), CHI 5 @ GR 2, CHI 1 @ MB 3, CHI 4 @ MB 2
	It’s been a struggle in Rosemont to this point. Wolves are beating teams like them and struggling with teams that are competing this season.
+5	Next Games: @ MIL 12/13, vs. MIL 12/14, vs. SA 12/17, vs. TEX 12/21, vs. TEX 12/22
Record: 11-14-2-0

26	Last Games: MIL 4 @ SA 3 (OT), IA 3 @ SA 2, IA 1 @ SA 5, SA 2 @ TOR 3, SA 1 @ TOR 4
	Frustrating weekend trip to the 6ix as the Rampage outplayed the Marlies in both games but came up on a losing end of both contests. Microcosm of the season for the Rampage?
-2	Next Games: vs. TUC 12/13, vs. MB 12/14, @ CHI 12/17, @ MIL 12/18, @ MB 12/21, @ MB 12/22
Record: 10-9-5-2

27	Last Games: BAK 4 @ SJ 3, SJ 9 @ ONT 2, SJ 4 @ ONT 5 (SO), BAK 2 @ SJ 6
	With Roy Sommer departing to the NHL, whomever runs the San Jose AHL bench is going to have their work cut out for them. The Barracuda are near the bottom of the Pacific and face a very good Stockton side this weekend.
+2	Next Games: vs. STK 12/14, @ STK 12/15, vs. ONT 12/18, @ SD 12/20
Record: 9-11-0-2

28	Last Games: BAK 4 @ SJ 3, ONT 1 @ BAK 3, BAK 3 @ STK 7, BAK 2 @ SJ 6
	Condors need G Shane Starrett back quickly, they are giving up too many goals and the backups have not been great.
-5	Next Games: vs. GR 12/13, vs. GR 12/14, @ COL 12/21, @ COL 12/22
Record: 9-11-2-1

29	Last Games: SD 1 @ ONT 2, TUC 2 @ SD 6, COL 3 @ SD 4 (OT), GR 4 @ SD 3
	Back to the bottom of the Pacific are San Diego. It’s been a grind and the Gulls have a busy two weeks here to try to get it figured out again.
-13	Next Games: @ COL 12/13, @ COL 12/14, vs. GR 12/17, vs. SJ 12/20, vs. STK 12/21
Record: 9-10-1-0

30	Last Games: SPR 1 @ BRI 4, BRI 2 @ WBS 5, BRI 5 @ UTI 4 (SO), BRI 2 @ SYR 5, UTI 6 @ BRI 3
	Sound Tigers are an average 5-5 in their last ten but when you are behind the 8-ball already because of your poor offense, it isn’t doing you any favors.
-3	Next Games: @ UTI 12/13, @ HER 12/14, vs. SYR 12/18, @ SPR 12/20, vs. WBS 12/21
Record: 9-14-3-1

31	Last Games: BEL 6 @ BNG 2, SYR 4 @ BNG 3 (OT), BNG 2 @ PRO 6, BNG 2 @ HFD 5, BNG 1 @ HFD 3
	It’s a wreck in the Devils organization and it’s affecting the AHL club. It isn’t going to get better, unfortunately.
-3	Next Games: @ SPR 12/13, vs. UTI 12/14, vs. RCH 12/18, @ RCH 12/20, @ SYR 12/21
Record: 7-14-4-0

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Have a great weekend, everyone!