We are heading to the All-Star break after this next weekend and I have some season ending predictions for you for each of the divisions.
- Hershey will not win the Atlantic Division.
- Utica will make the playoffs.
- A Central Division team will play for the Calder Cup.
- Calgary will not win the Pacific Division.
In doing now 16 weeks of these Rankings I have picked up a bit of a vibe, and the above is it. Let’s come back and revisit how wrong I was in the future, shall we?
Let’s get into the Rankings this week with little shakeup to the top five.
1. Hershey Bears
Last Week: 1st (no change)
Record: 26-11-5
Banged up Bears survived key losses a few months back. Now, with teams closing in, will they again in the coming weeks?
2. Calgary Wranglers
Last Week: 2nd (no change)
Record: 28-13-2
Wranglers picked up 3 of 6 points this week but are still being pursued by the rest of the division and it seems like the gap is shortening.
3. Laval Rocket
Last Week: 4th (up 1)
Record: 26-11-2-1
Laval is a work horse team that just grinds. That, and they are back at the top of the North looking to stay there.
4. Texas Stars
Last Week: 3rd (down 1)
Record: 24-13-1
Stars stay hot, 8-2 in last ten and have tough competition on the plate this week win Milwaukee and Coachella Valley.
5. Grand Rapids Griffins
Last Week: 8th (up 3)
Record: 24-12-3-1
Griffins handle business in Winnipeg against the Moose and remain in firm control of the Central Division lead.
6. Rochester Americans
Last Week: 5th (down 1)
Record: 24-12-3-1
Amerks have their lead evaporate and are now pursing the Rocket once again. Utica and Syracuse on the schedule are a prime opportunity to make up that lost ground.
7. Providence Bruins
Last Week: 11th (up 4)
Record: 23-13-4-1
Got points in all thee games this week which is nice. Six off Hershey for the top spot. Will they get there?
8. Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins
Last Week: 10th (up 2)
Record: 22-10-4
Broke a losing streak and now have a winning streak. Big test this Wednesday at home against the Bears.
9. Toronto Marlies
Last Week: 12th (up 3)
Record: 22-11-2-3
Hope the Marlies are enjoying that warm California weather as it has been bitterly cold in the Northeast this past week.
10. Abbotsford Canucks
Last Week: 24th (up 14)
Record: 22-15-1-1
The Canucks have an eight game win streak and have a tough schedule of Coachella Valley and two with Calgary coming up.
11. Ontario Reign
Last Week: 14th (up 3)
Record: 24-13-1-1
Reign respond with a good week and sit second in the Pacific.
12. Cleveland Monsters
Last Week: 6th (down 6)
Record: 23-12-3-3
Monsters picked up points in three contests this week, but two of those contests were OT loser points. A pair in Providence this week.
13. Coachella Valley Firebirds
Last Week: 7th (down 6)
Record: 21-15-1-5
One point out of a possible six has the Firebirds skidding a bit before the All Star break. Two in Texas this weekend.
14. San Jose Barracuda
Last Week: 13th (down 1)
Record: 23-13-2-2
Things are tight to see who gets to be the first team chasing Calgary for the top spot in the Pacific. Barracuda are right there.
15. Milwaukee Admirals
Last Week: 20th (up 5)
Record: 20-14-3-3
5 of 6 points to maintain with the rest of the teams chasing Grand Rapids.
16. Bakersfield Condors
Last Week: 16th (no change)
Record: 17-15-4-2
3 of 6 points this past week isn’t bad, but there is a lot of work to do in Bakersfield in the second half.
17. Charlotte Checkers
Last Week: 17th (no change)
Record: 22-12-3-2
Checkers are in the midwest and won in Iowa, split in Milwaukee and play the Wild Tuesday before returning home to take on the Penguins before the All-Star break.
18. Colorado Eagles
Last Week: 9th (down 9)
Record: 21-12-3-2
Eagles looked prime for a surge and get stopped in Henderson where they come away with just a point.
19. Henderson Silver Knights
Last Week: 26th (up 6)
Record: 14-25-2
Don’t look now but Henderson is 5-0 and out of the basement in the Pacific. Still a lot of work to do but I like their chances better than some teams who are out of contention at the moment.
20. Utica Comets
Last Week: 22nd (up 2)
Record: 14-20-2-2
I witnessed Utica first hand this weekend twice and it is not a team that plays like its record would indicate. 7-3 in their last ten proves that somewhat.
21. Lehigh Valley Phantoms
Last Week: 15th (down 6)
Record: 20-17-5-1
A pair of 5-1 losses to Springfield and Wilkes-Barre wraps around a narrow 2-1 win over Bridgeport. Not impressive at all.
22. Rockford IceHogs
Last Week: 21st (down 1)
Record: 16-17-5-1
A pair of OT loser points this weekend for the IceHogs which isn’t bad, but not good when you are chasing the rest of the division.
23. Springfield Thunderbirds
Last Week: 23rd (no change)
Record: 19-17-2-2
Very good week for the Thunderbirds who get points out of every game played in their three in three weekend.
24. Chicago Wolves
Last Week: 22nd (down 2)
Record: 20-16-2
Wolves may need a tick more post All Star break to safely be OK in the central. Manitoba twice this week should help a bit.
25. Tucson Roadrunners
Last Week: 18th (down 7)
Record: 19-18-2
Roadrunners will be stuck in Pacific purgatory perpetually if they can’t find ways to beat teams like Henderson.
26. Bridgeport Islanders
Last Week: 32nd (up 6)
Record: 10-27-2-2
Islanders picked up two wins this week but also picked up two losses.
27. Hartford Wolf Pack
Last Week: 19th (down 8)
Record: 18-20-2-1
0-3 skid for the Wolf Pack have them out of a playoff spot in the Atlantic. Schedule doesn’t get any easier with a pair in Laval this weekend.
28. Belleville Senators
Last Week: 29th (up 1)
Record: 16-14-1-4
Close contests with the Hershey Bears this week. Hartford and an home and home with Utica this weekend.
29. Syracuse Crunch
Last Week: 27th (down 2)
Record: 18-14-5-4
OT win in Cleveland salvages a week where the Crunch lose to last place Bridgeport and last place Syracuse.
30. San Diego Gulls
Last Week: 28th (down 2)
Record: 12-21-4-2
Beat Calgary in Calgary in OT on Sunday. Are in last place. The Toronto Marlies stop in for their first ever visit this week.
31. Iowa Wild
Last Week: 30th (down 1)
Record: 14-23-2-1
Winless in four. Would love some consistency out of this group.
32. Manitoba Moose
Last Week: 31st (down 1)
Record: 11-23-1-1
Rough stretch for the Moose who should reset over the break and come back focused on trying to dig out of the Central Division basement.
Have a great week, everyone!
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