Back for a second week in a row is the Chirps from Center Ice AHL Power Rankings.
I think with these that as long as you get the top three and bottom three right, the middle is really insignificant. Maybe I am wrong.
Anyway, there are a few big swings after the first week with teams that impressed last week but put up duds this week. I didn’t drop the teams that far, but again, those teams aren’t my top or bottom three teams, so does it really matter?
I think I nailed the top three teams this week with Toronto, Hershey and Bakersfield as the top three. The Marlies are unbeaten, Hershey is at the top of the Atlantic and the Condors haven’t had a regulation loss yet.
Here’s the whole list for you. Let me know what you think about these so I don’t think I am talking to myself.
1. Toronto Marlies
Last Week: 3rd (up 2)
Record: 5-0
Last unbeaten team in the AHL gets you top billing in the Rankings after sweeping Rochester and shutting out Utica at the tail end of a three in three.
2. Hershey Bears
Last Week: 5th (up 3)
Record: 3-1-1
Rebounded nicely with a shutout win against the Wolves. Are the Bears picking up where they left off in June?
3. Bakersfield Condors
Last Week: 6th (up 3)
Record: 2-0-1
Took three points out of the weekend and are near the top of the Pacific in what’s shaping up to be a very competitive division. Condors close out October hosting the Wranglers then heading to Tucson.
4. Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins
Last Week: 9th (up 5)
Record: 3-1
Offense is potent, with 17 goals in four contests, and they are rounding into form on defense and in goal, where Filip Larsson made 41 saves for a shutout on Saturday. Home and home with Syracuse next for the Pens.
5. Charlotte Checkers
Last Week: 1st (down 4)
Record: 3-1
Split with Cleveland at home and are off to a decent start in the family competitive Atlantic. What looks like a bad Bridgeport team drops by to close out the month.
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6. San Jose Barracuda
Last Week: 8th (up 2)
Record: 3-1
Shut out Iowa on Saturday, blew them out on Sunday. This is looking like a different Barracuda team of versions past, but how many times do I have to remind myself it’s still October?
7. Laval Rocket
Last Week: 13th (up 6)
Record: 3-1
Swept Syracuse at home to stay competitive with Toronto, who are off to a hot start. A Utica team still looking for its first win is on the schedule for the next three.
8. Grand Rapids Griffins
Last Week: 17th (up 9)
Record: 3-1
Griffs are getting a bump here because when you play a team (Manitoba) on back to back nights and shut them out in one game and hold them to a goal in the other and sweep them, that’s impressive. Grand Rapids closes out October with games in the Atlantic Division.
9. Milwaukee Admirals
Last Week: 18th (up 9)
Record: 3-1
Swept Rockford in a pair of home and homes and are sitting nice near the top of the Central two weeks in. Iowa and then a home and home with Chicago close out October for the Admirals.
10. Calgary Wranglers
Last Week: 24th (up 14)
Record: 4-1
Wranglers have been busy, with five games played already and a jump on the competition in the 10 team Pacific, sweeping the Silver Knights in Nevada with a shutout in one of them.
11. Texas Stars
Last Week: 15th (up 4)
Record: 3-1
Swept the Roadrunners on the road and will look to build on the hot start hosting a hapless Iowa Wild team.
12. Abbotsford Canucks
Last Week: 10th (down 2)
Record: 2-1-0-1
Split in Colorado and have 5 points in 4 games. It’s not a bad start against some tough (they played Calgary on opening weekend) competition. Canucks have their home opener with San Diego.
13. Syracuse Crunch
Last Week: 4th (down 9)
Record: 3-2
Swept in Laval, including a shutout, but rebounded nicely with a win in Belleville Sunday. Penguins next in a home and home.
14. Belleville Senators
Last Week: 11th (down 3)
Record: 2-0-1-0
Split the weekend but lost to a Syracuse team Sunday who was swept in Laval the two days before. Home and home with Toronto next, with doesn’t make things any easier.
15. Manitoba Moose
Last Week: 2nd (down 13)
Record: 2-2
After nine goals for a week prior in Des Moines, Manitoba musters just one in a pair in Grand Rapids. Moose have their home opener with the Rockford IceHogs this weekend.
16. Colorado Eagles
Last Week: 20th (up 4)
Record: 2-1-0-1
After opening the season with four straight at home, the Eagles take it north to Canada to close out the month with the Wranglers for what’s shaping up to be a pair of really competitive games. Split with the Canucks last week.
17. Cleveland Monsters
Last Week: 14th (down 3)
Record: 2-2
I don’t know if road splits, which is what the Monsters have done with Hershey last week and Charlotte this, are going to be good enough for the Conference runner up team. Home and home with the Americans to close out October.
18. Coachella Valley Firebirds
Last Week: 27th (up 9)
Record: 1-2
Too soon to think that the back to back Western Conference Champion Firebirds are regressing, but two points in three contests couldn’t be how it’s been drawn up.
19. Rockford IceHogs
Last Week: 7th (down 12)
Record: 1-2
Swept by the Admirals in a home and home and head to Manitoba next for a pair. Gotta maximize points because they all count the same.
20. Tucson Roadrunners
Last Week: 19th (down 1)
Record: 1-3
Tucson was swept by Texas at home this weekend. Bakersfield in this weekend and that’s likely not going to be easy.
21. Hartford Wolf Pack
Last Week: 26th (up 5)
Record: 2-1-0-1
Five points in four games is OK, but getting shut out against the Islanders Sunday stings.
22. Providence Bruins
Last Week: 21st (down 1)
Record: 2-2
Split a home and home with the Thunderbirds. Hershey in for a pair Friday and Sunday. Bruins aren’t in, “ground to make up territory” yet (it’s October, dummy) but other teams are slowly getting away from them.
23. Bridgeport Islanders
Last Week: 31st (up 8)
Record: 1-3-1-0
Lost in overtime Saturday in Hartford then shut the Wolf Pack out at home on Sunday. Nice turn around for the Islanders, who head to North Carolina this week.
24. Lehigh Valley Phantoms
Last Week: 22nd (down 2)
Record: 1-2
Swept by the Penguins in games that arguably the Phantoms could have won. A stingy Griffins team drops by for the first time ever this weekend.
25. Rochester Americans
Last Week: 12th (down 13)
Record: 1-3
Were swept in home and home set against the blazing hot Toronto Marlies. Home and home theme continues with Cleveland this week.
26. Ontario Reign
Last Week: 25th (down 1)
Record: 1-2
Lose at home and score just one goal in their only action this week Friday against Bakersfield. Still time, cause the basement teams in the Pacific are vast (and it’s still October) so maybe things pick up against the Firebirds or Silver Knights this week.
27. Springfield Thunderbirds
Last Week: 23rd (down 4)
Record: 2-3
Two points out of a three in three weekend. That’s not good. Another three in three inbound with Grand Rapids, Hershey and Hartford.
28. Chicago Wolves
Last Week: 28th (no change)
Record: 1-2
Split in Hershey and were shut out Sunday by the Bears. Home and home with the Admirals up next.
29. Henderson Silver Knights
Last Week: 16th (down 13)
Record: 1-3
Got roughed up by the Wranglers at home and early returns indicate another long year in Nevada.
30. San Diego Gulls
Last Week: 30th (no change)
Record: 1-3
Beat Bakerfield in OT Saturday or else the Gulls would still be winless. Trip to Abbottsford isn’t going to be easy this weekend.
31. Iowa Wild
Last Week: 29th (down 2)
Record: 0-4
Wild still looking for their first points of any kind this season. Beaten badly in San Jose this weekend, including getting shutout. Admirals drop in midweek then Iowa heads to Texas.
32. Utica Comets
Last Week: 32nd (no change)
Record: 0-4
Comets still looking for their first win. Early days for all, but to be winless two weeks into the season is troubling.
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These are a lot easier to put together when you aren’t messing in HTML or charts. Because of that, I may be back again for a third week!
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