Chirps from Center Ice

I debated leaving Utica as the number one team again this week, but Rochester was the only team thus far to hand the Comets a regulation loss, so in situations like this, the team that beats the team that was at the top gets the rub.

But don’t worry, the Comets remain a very good team. Not many teams go into Charlotte and sweep the Checkers. The Comets did just that this past weekend.

Springfield and Hartford remain joined at the hip and tread into Utica and Rochester’s waters this week trying to separate themselves from one another in a two horse race in the Atlantic.

Here’s the whole list. A lot of mediocrity out there.

Rank	Team	Blurb	Last Week
1		Amerks continue to throttle teams but because everything is done on percentage points this season, trail second place Cleveland by a few. Friday’s showdown in with Springfield should be the AHL’s free game of the week on AHLTV.	+8
2		Only really, really, really good teams go into Charlotte and sweep the Checkers. Utica did that this weekend.	-1
3		Split their weekend series with Hartford where the home team won each game. Busy week with a stop in Rochester Friday which could be a test for the Atlantic Division leading Thunderbirds.	n/c
4		Speaking of tests, Hartford has passed all theirs with flying colors thus far. Big week ahead with division heavies on the schedule then a Saturday date with the Comets at home.	n/c
5		Three out of four or, if you want to take it back even further, 5 out of 6 points out of Toronto, who is hotly contesting with the Monsters the chase and pace the Comets and Americans are setting in the North thus far.	+2
6		OK, so a bad week in comparison to the torrent pace set by the Heat thus far with two regulation losses. San Diego comes in this weekend, hot on Stockton’s tail.	-4
7		Are 5-0 against Grand Rapids this season, 11-3-1 against Central Division foes. Played Grand Rapids Sunday and won. Really all you need to be is good in your own division to have success.	+10
8		Spilt with Stockton at home then ice issues at Toyota Arena postponed contests with Bakersfield and San Jose.	-3
9		So the Bruins go close to 1000 miles on the road in the span of 72 hours and pick up 5 of 6 points in the process. Very, very impressive.	+2
10		Getting Matt Murray down from Ottawa, if he even reports, should be a huge boost for a Belleville side making a bit of a push here, 7-3 in their last ten.	+9
11		Took 3 of 4 away from Stockton, which is no small feat. Homestand continues with a pair against the Roadrunners.	+12
12		Smashed the Stars at home. Are 7-3 in their last ten. Head east for dates with Belleville twice and Laval this week and next.	+3
13		Coughed up three goals in 98 seconds in Henderson Sunday, otherwise would have been a sweep of the Silver Knights. Now three with the division leading Wolves staring the Wild right in the face this week.	-7
14		Fumbled a bit with losing a few games to Cleveland, division looks a little top heavy so the Marlies are good for now. Springfield and Laval drop by this weekend.	-6
15		Only won once this week. A lot of mediocrity in the Atlantic, Charlotte is in amongst it.	-3
16		We talk a lot about mediocrity in the Atlantic, and we have found our mediocre Central Division team. It’s Grand Rapids. No consistency with this team.	-6
17		Pulled themselves up by the bootstraps and – don’t look now – are up to fifth in the Pacific after sweeping Abbotsford at home. Heading into Colorado this weekend.	+10
18		Use three goals in :98 to blow past a flat footed Iowa side on Sunday. Just one game this week up in Bakersfield.	-4
19		Bears have a COVID issue they are dealing with which is postponing their contest with Lehigh Valley this Wednesday. Beat Providence in OT last Wednesday then were throttled in Rochester Friday.	-1
20		Gulls won four straight over last place San Jose which may have artificially inflated their stock a bit. Real test comes this weekend with a pair in Stockton.	+5
21		Schedule isn’t kind to the Condors this week. A midweek game in Stockton followed by a date against the pesky Silver Knights then the Reign comes in Saturday.	+1
22		Split a weekend with Chicago (loss) and Milwaukee (win) – may have lost their top two leading scorers (Lukas Reichel and Brett Connolly) to injury. Rematch in Milwaukee this week then a pair in Western Michigan.	-6
23		COVID has pillaged the Islanders with recalls up top, coupled with the fact Bridgeport was on the road for five straight or 7 of their last 9. Four at home coming now, but against all rough opponents.	+7
24		Swept in Winnipeg by the Moose. Head east to take on Laval for the first time ever this week then they are home for 11 straight games. After this Friday, Texas doesn’t go on the road until January 15.	-4
25		Mediocrity continues. Let a Providence team with 1000 bus miles under them out pace them in the third period on Saturday. Busy week ahead of some winnable games, but are they?	-12
26		Split a weekend series with Rockford, who the Admirals host Wednesday before heading to Cleveland.	+5
27		Winless in their last four, host a Texas side for the rare Western Conference – Eastern Conference clash.	-3
28		You can’t drop four straight games to an opponent like the Barracuda did with the Gulls over the span of these last two weeks. Heading to Abbotsford this weekend. Four out of the next five is against the Canucks.	-2
29		Less than ideal trip to the desert against the Roadrunners. Only on 11 points and starting to lose touch with the rest of the division.	-8
30		If you take away the win the Crunch had over Lehigh Valley (everybody is beating the Phantoms these days) you have to go back to November 6 for Syracuse’s last win. Injuries have killed all of Syracuse’s momentum.	-2
31		Couldn’t even beat barely an ECHL squad in equally as putrid Bridgeport on Saturday. Winless in their last seven. Three wins is a league worst by far.	-2