You think you have a lot of time in the lead up to the Calder Cup Playoffs, but there’s only like eight weeks left in the season.
There is still time, sure, but you want to be trending upwards.
Laval, Wilkes-Barre and Rochester are all trending upwards, and are in the top three this week.
There are other teams just outside the top ten this week that are making moves like Utica and of all teams Henderson, but of those two I like the Comets overall chances better.
Let’s get into it…
1. Laval Rocket
Last Week: 2nd (up 1)
Record: 30-11-2-1
Hottest team in the AHL right now, it’s time to give the Rocket their just due and stick them at the top. Seven game win streak. 9-1 in their last ten. Trip to equally as hot Rochester this Saturday.
2. Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins
Last Week: 3rd (up 1)
Record: 26-11-4
Never say die attitude against the Monsters at home Saturday, overcoming a 4-1 first period deficit to win 5-4 in overtime, have the Pens just five points off Hershey and in second place in the Atlantic.
3. Rochester Americans
Last Week: 6th (up 3)
Record: 28-12-3-1
Amerks are on a five game win streak but that is overshadowed by the work that the Rocket have done of late.
4. Colorado Eagles
Last Week: 9th (up 5)
Record: 25-12-4-2
Points in six straight have the Eagles within five points of first place Calgary with four games in hand.
5. Calgary Wranglers
Last Week: 1st (down 4)
Record: 29-15-2-1
Wranglers haven’t won in three games and the lead on the Pacific is closing tighter. Ontario visits this week and that isn’t going to be easy.
6. Coachella Valley Firebirds
Last Week: 7th (up 1)
Record: 25-15-1-5
OT win in San Diego Saturday. One in Henderson Wednesday then the next five at home.
7. Bakersfield Condors
Last Week: 8th (up 1)
Record: 20-15-5-2
Points in six straight, Bakersfield is trending up and has games in hand to boot.
8. Hershey Bears
Last Week: 5th (down 3)
Record: 28-13-5
Depleted Bears are shutout at home against an average Syracuse team. The Penguins come in Tuesday looking to close the Bears lead to just three points.
9. Toronto Marlies
Last Week: 4th (down 5)
Record: 24-12-2-5
Dropped a pair at home against Laval after a long road trip. Marlies seemed primed to make a move and can because their schedule is favorable this week.
10. Providence Bruins
Last Week: 10th (no change)
Record: 25-15-4-1
Split a home and home with Springfield this weekend. Two with Bridgeport, whom the Bruins have mastered, this weekend.
11. Texas Stars
Last Week: 13th (up 2)
Record: 26-14-3-0
Showed great tenacity overcoming a 3-1 deficit vs. Rockford and that was enough for the Stars to sweep the weekend against this IceHogs and claim first in the Central.
12. Ontario Reign
Last Week: 11th (down 1)
Record: 26-14-2-1
Three points this week isn’t bad, but the Reign are in a slog with a bunch of good teams chasing down a struggling Calgary team.
13. Utica Comets
Last Week: 19th (up 6)
Record: 17-21-3-2
The Comets resurgence after starting 0-13 is a sight to behold. I firmly believe this club is a playoff team and it’s really starting to show. Points in four, 7-2-1 in last ten.
14. Henderson Silver Knights
Last Week: 24th (up 10)
Record: 17-27-2
The Silver Knights are the hottest team in the Pacific right now after sweeping Calgary in Calgary and are 8-2 in their last ten.
15. Abbotsford Canucks
Last Week: 14th (down 1)
Record: 24-18-1-1
Split a pair in Colorado, which is no easy feat. Host San Diego this week and the Eagles again.
16. Milwaukee Admirals
Last Week: 22nd (up 6)
Record: 23-15-3-4
Sweeping Grand Rapids is great, but I need to see more consistency if I am to move the Admirals up further.
17. Cleveland Monsters
Last Week: 13th (down 5)
Record: 24-13-4-4
Battled back to tie and lose in a shootout in Allentown then had a three goal lead and lost the next night in OT in Wilkes-Barre. These are points the Monsters can’t be casting away.
18. Charlotte Checkers
Last Week: 15th (down 3)
Record: 25-14-3-2
Shutout Hartford Friday then lost in Bridgeport Saturday. These Checkers are tough to figure out.
19. Chicago Wolves
Last Week: 16th (down 3)
Record: 24-17-2
OT win in Bakersfield is the only bright spot for the Wolves who were shutout the next night by the Condors.
20. Springfield Thunderbirds
Last Week: 20th (no change)
Record: 22-17-2-3
Split with Providence. Need more if they want to start putting the heat on the rest of the division.
21. Syracuse Crunch
Last Week: 27th (up 6)
Record: 19-16-6-4
Winning in Hershey is great, but are the Syracuse Crunch all the way back yet? Won’t know until this week where the Crunch have Toronto / Rochester / Lehigh Valley.
22. Grand Rapids Griffins
Last Week: 17th (down 5)
Record: 25-16-3-1
Four game losing streak for the Griffins who are swept in Milwaukee this weekend.
23. San Jose Barracuda
Last Week: 18th (down 5)
Record: 24-14-2-3
Split a pair at home against Tucson and suddenly have slipped to fifth in the Pacific.
24. Bridgeport Islanders
Last Week: 29th (up 5)
Record: 11-31-2-2
Picked up just their third home won of the season Saturday over Charlotte.
25. Hartford Wolf Pack
Last Week: 28th (up 3)
Record: 19-22-4-1
Split a pair this weekend and got (finally) back into the win column Saturday in Allentown.
26. Lehigh Valley Phantoms
Last Week: 21st (down 5)
Record: 22-18-5-1
Phantoms come off long break picking up just two points and losing to a slumping Hartford team.
27. Rockford IceHogs
Last Week: 23rd (down 4)
Record: 17-21-5-1
IceHogs had a 3-1 lead on Texas go up in smoke Saturday and they lost 4-3 clean. Seems Rockford may be stuck in fifth in the Central.
28. San Diego Gulls
Last Week: 32nd (up 4)
Record: 13-23-5-2
Three of four points coming out of All-Stars isn’t bad.
29. Belleville Senators
Last Week: 25th (down 4)
Record: 18-16-2-4
OT loser point in Utica is all the B-Sens have to show for post All-Star week. It won’t be long until the Comets pass the Senators either.
30. Tucson Roadrunners
Last Week: 26th (down 4)
Record: 20-20-2-1
Roadrunners are ice cold at 1-7-1-1 run of form in last ten. Bakersfield, Ontario and two with Henderson isn’t easy.
31. Manitoba Moose
Last Week: 31st (no change)
Record: 13-26-1-1
Split with the Wild at home and now much stiffer competition in the form of Texas and Milwaukee stop by.
32. Iowa Wild
Last Week: 30th (down 2)
Record: 15-27-2-1
Split a pair in Winnipeg this weekend in a battle of two Central Division teams not going anywhere.
Have a great week, everyone!
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