Chirps from Center Ice

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I think I let it slip that I think that the Penguins win the thing this year, but let’s talk our way through it, shall we?

Before we do though, a moment of silence for the Calgary Wranglers, Abbotsford Canucks, Tucson Roadrunners, Rockford IceHogs, Iowa Wild, Belleville Senators, Utica Comets, Lehigh Valley Phantoms and Hartford Wolf Pack who did not qualify for the Calder Cup Playoffs this season. Better luck next time, brother.

Alright, let’s get into it starting out in the Western Conference and work our way East.

Pacific Division First Round (Best of Three)

First Round Bye: Ontario Reign

(2) Colorado Eagles vs. (7) San Diego Gulls – couple things I’m looking at as I fly blind here in the West, which are trends and head to heads. Both teams finished the season on losing streaks (0-3 for San Diego and 0-2 for Colorado) and you could maybe see a bit of an upset here for San Diego and make a case, but I’m not going there this quickly. Eagles in two.

(3) Henderson Silver Knights vs. (6) San Jose Barracuda – Henderson made a resurgence this year and I think they are just getting started. Barracuda steal a game though, Silver Knights in three.

(4) Coachella Valley Firebirds vs. (5) Bakersfield Condors – It’s a bad matchup for the Firebirds. Bako went 6-1-0-1 against the Firebirds this season. No room for error here. I think Coachella Valley steals one though. Condors in three.

Pacific Division Semifinals (Best of Five)

(1) Ontario Reign vs. (5) Bakersfield Condors – Reign went 7-1 against the Condors this season. That’s some dominance. Reign in three.

(2) Colorado Eagles vs. (3) Henderson Silver Knights – Colorado went 6-2 against the Silver Knights this year, but those matchups were all before March. This is a different Henderson team. I don’t know why, but I am smelling upset. Silver Knights in five.

Pacific Division Finals (Best of Five)

(1) Ontario Reign vs. (3) Henderson Silver Knights – I think it’s the two best teams in the division as they sit right now, so I am confident this far in. Flip a coin here. Ontario won the division easily but if there was another three weeks left in the season it may be another story with Henderson. How much starch is left in a resurgent Henderson team here? Reign in five.

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Central Division First Round (Best of Three)

First Round Byes: Grand Rapids Griffins, Chicago Wolves, Texas Stars

(4) Manitoba Moose vs. (5) Milwaukee Admirals – It’s not the best matchup for the Moose head to head, but the trends here have the team that is rolling vs. the team that is faltering advancing. It’s Manitoba. Moose in two.

Central Division Semifinals (Best of Five)

(1) Grand Rapids Griffins vs. (4) Manitoba Moose – You aren’t going to find many teams that the Griffins have losing records against. That’s remarkable consistency. I can see the Moose stealing one, though. Griffins in four.

(2) Chicago Wolves vs. (3) Texas Stars – Texas, despite finishing five points behind the Wolves in standings, owned Chicago in the regular season. Stars in three.

Central Division Finals (Best of Five)

(1) Grand Rapids Griffins vs. (3) Texas Stars – Grand Rapids is just getting rolling here. Griffins in four.

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North Division First Round (Best of Three)

First Round Byes: Laval Rocket, Syracuse Crunch, Cleveland Monsters

(4) Toronto Marlies vs. (5) Rochester Americans – The Amerks were a mess in the final weeks of the season, needing overtime on the final day of the regular season in Hershey to clip a resurgent Utica Comets team. That doesn’t bode well in a tossup matchup like this one is. Marlies in three.

North Division Semifinals (Best of Five)

(1) Laval Rocket vs. (4) Toronto Marlies – I think it’s a tossup, but Toronto has been too inconsistent for me to pick them to advance here. Rocket in four.

(2) Syracuse Crunch vs. (3) Cleveland Monsters – Another tossup here but an early upset, I don’t like the way that Syracuse has been trending these past few weeks. Monsters in five.

North Division Finals (Best of Five)

(1) Laval Rocket vs. (3) Cleveland Monsters – I think every playoffs, you run into a team that isn’t supposed to be here and next thing you know they survive and advance. I think we found that team here in Cleveland, who bounce the Rocket in five.

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Atlantic Division First Round (Best of Three)

First Round Byes: Providence Bruins, Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins

(3) Charlotte Checkers vs. (6) Springfield Thunderbirds – For as much as Penguins fans want the upset (myself included) it ain’t happening here. Checkers in three.

(4) Bridgeport Islanders vs. (5) Hershey Bears – The argument here is that over the past few weeks, Bridgeport has been the best team in the division, not Providence or the Penguins. Hershey is a one or two line team and Derek King is in over his head as head coach of the Bears. Islanders in two.

Atlantic Division Semifinals (Best of Five)

(1) Providence Bruins vs. (4) Bridgeport Islanders – Providence went 11-1 against Bridgeport in the regular season. The Islanders though, give the Bruins a scare, but not enough here. Bruins in five.

(2) Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins vs. (3) Charlotte Checkers – Inevitable that these teams meet in the playoffs, no? Wilkes-Barre can’t be touched five on five, Kirk MacDonald has pressed all the right buttons this season and while the Checkers kept the Penguins honest this season finishing 8 points behind, the Penguins advance here. It’ll be a 2-3 format with the final three in Charlotte. Wilkes-Barre needs to win one in North Carolina. It’ll be Game Four. Penguins in four.

Atlantic Division Finals (Best of Five)

(1) Providence Bruins vs. (2) Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins – Inevitable that these teams meet in the playoffs, no? Look, Providence won the regular season title by feasting on the Hartford’s (8-2) the Bridgeport’s (11-1) and Springfield’s (7-5) of the division and filling out the rest of their schedule with North Division cupcakes like Utica (4-2) and Belleville (4-0) – they have winning records against every team in their division, except the Penguins, where they went 1-2-1 and made sure the series with the Penguins ended in January. That said, do I expect a walk in the park? No. The Bruins push the Penguins to the brink, but Wilkes-Barre survives it’s first postseason scare. Penguins in five.

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Western Conference Finals (Best of Seven)

(1) Grand Rapids Griffins vs. (1) Ontario Reign – I don’t like how chalky things shaped up here in the West. These teams didn’t meet, but Grand Rapids plowed through every team they faced this season while Ontario struggled with teams in its own division. Griffins in five.

Eastern Conference Finals (Best of Seven)

(2) Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins vs. (3) Cleveland Monsters – I had Laval making it here up until a few minutes ago as I write this on Sunday evening. Syracuse has been too inconsistent down the stretch, but the West was too chalky for my liking and so unless I can make a case for Bridgeport vs. Laval, which I cannot in all honesty, Laval had to get bounced and why not Cleveland. But it’s twelve bells in the W-B and midnight strikes for this Cinderella. Penguins in six.

Calder Cup Finals (Best of Seven)

(1) Grand Rapids Griffins vs. (2) Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins – The two consistently best teams in each conference meet. The Pens are deep. The Griffins are deep. I am confident enough about the Penguins to get them here, not so much now that they are here. The Griffins were a legit buzzsaw, losing just 16 times and going 40-11-4-1 in their division. They finished 20 points clear of second place Chicago, but they haven’t run into a team like the Penguins who are battle tested against the likes of Hershey, Charlotte, Providence and the rest of the stiff competition they take on and outclass on a nightly basis, provided they keep their noses clean. This ain’t going to be easy. I could see it being a knock down, drag out, every game goes two overtimes classic of all classics. If that holds, I think that the Penguins get the better of the Griffins. Neither team had a player in top 20 in scoring. It was John Leonard’s 54 in 47 games to Aidan McDonough’s 44 in 62, then a bunch of guys that carried the freight consistently. The X factor in the series may be in goal, where I could see Joel Blomqvist coming in and saving the series here. Write it any way that you want. Penguins in six for their first League Championship in 27 years.

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That’s how I see it. That’s how I hope it. I’m rarely right with these. This is me, on paper, writing my favorite team into a championship for the second straight year. I made the mistake and looked past a better Lehigh Valley Phantoms team for the second straight year last postseason but that’s not the case this season. They still play these games on ice. Expect these to be wrong, very wrong, but it’s fun to hope. Hope you bought your ticket, now take the ride.

Anyway, I’d like to be the first to congratulate the Colorado Eagles on the Calder Cup!

After Hershey beat Rochester 5-4 in overtime Sunday, the First Round in the Atlantic Division is set.

(3) Charlotte Checkers vs. (6) Springfield Thunderbirds

(4) Bridgeport Islanders vs. (5) Hershey Bears

Schedules to be determined, likely later this evening.

Remember that Wilkes-Barre / Scranton plays the highest of the two seeds that advance.

Enjoy the week off. I will be back this week with the full Calder Cup Playoffs Preview.

I’m not going to devote a lot of time on this since it’s the same thing every year and this year isn’t any different than any other year.

The AHL released the playing schedule for the 2025-26 season on Thursday.

League release here. Penguins release here. Let’s just ask the same questions we asked last year and jump back in the pool.

1) Do you have a schedule matrix of opponents? Anyone in the Conference we are not playing?

No Western Conference teams this season. All 14 teams in the Eastern Conference, however.

2) Longest road trip? Longest home stand?

Essentially four games for each, four at home that close out the regular season in April and two, four game road trips in January and mid-March.

3) How many three in threes?

Just two.

4) How many work night and Sunday home games?

Four Sunday home games. Two Tuesday home games and seven Wednesday games.

5) Any off the wall schedule time quirks?

In November, on Wednesday, November 12 they are in Bridgeport for a 10:30 a.m. kids day game. Then they play in Springfield on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day on Monday January 19 at 3:05 p.m.

They play every day of the week, which includes a Thursday, April 9 game in Bridgeport.

Eight Friday’s off, including Opening Night. They only have two Saturday’s off all season, both in March. All Saturday home games start at 6:05.

Black Friday home game against the Phantoms.

6) Where’s the All-Star Classic this year?

Rockford, Illinois. Nothing says excitement like Illinois in Winter.

7) Playoff structure?

No official mention, but you have to assume that it will be the same as it was last year. 23 teams, same format. Get ready for that first round series with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms again, buddy.

8) What about preseason games?

No word on that yet.

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Debating even running this again next year, it’s too boring and way too predictable. Same teams every year. The only schedule wrinkle is two less with Hershey (10) and two more with Utica (4), two less with Belleville (just home and away this season) and two more with a new look and should be improved Bridgeport Islanders team – wow! How innovative!

Enjoy the rest of your summer. I know I am and don’t want it to end. Talk to you again in the Fall.

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It is that time of year again! Is this the year for your team? Is this the year for the Penguins? Will anyone other than Hershey be celebrating in mid-June?

Well, I am here to try and sort though it all for you with the way that I think it goes. I preview every round and give you a winner.

Before we begin, let’s have a moment of silence for the Bakersfield Condors, Belleville Senators, Bridgeport Islanders, Hartford Wolf Pack, Henderson Silver Knights, Iowa Wild, Manitoba Moose, San Diego Gulls and Utica Comets. These teams will not be participating this season. Better luck next year, jack.

Let’s get into it, starting from the Western Conference all the way home to the Eastern Conference.

Pacific Division First Round (Best of Three)

First Round Bye: Colorado Eagles

(2) Abbotsford Canucks vs. (7) Tucson Roadrunners: It’s a series where you can see a Roadrunners upset, but if there were more weeks left in the season Abbotsford is likely the team sitting on a bye, not Colorado. Let’s not overthink things off the bat with this far to go, Canucks in two.

(3) Ontario Reign vs. (6) San Jose Barracuda: I think it’s a bad matchup for the Barracuda and I might be wrong for this decision this early in. San Jose in three.

(4) Coachella Valley Firebirds vs. (5) Calgary Wranglers: Wranglers are the better team here, Calgary in two. No three peat trip to the Finals for the Firebirds this season.

Pacific Division Semifinals (Best of Five)

(1) Colorado Eagles vs. (6) San Jose Barracuda: Does the layoff hinder the Eagles? I could see a scenario here where San Jose wins Game 1, possibly Game 2, but the end result is always the Eagles. I think. Colorado in five.

(2) Abbotsford Canucks vs. (5) Calgary Wranglers: The series was dead even for the most part in the regular season. I could see Calgary finally resetting and getting right, but at the end of the day these teams have been trending in opposite directions for weeks. Canucks in four.

Pacific Division Finals (Best of Five)

(1) Colorado Eagles vs. (2) Abbotsford Canucks: Abbotsford was 6-2 in the regular season against the Eagles. I think Colorado gives them a scare, but not enough here. Canucks in five.

Central Division First Round (Best of Three)

First Round Byes: Milwaukee Admirals, Texas Stars, Grand Rapids Griffins

(4) Chicago Wolves vs. (5) Rockford IceHogs: Rockford had a losing record and finished eight points behind the Wolves. Rockford steals one, but not the series, Chicago in three.

Central Division Semifinals (Best of Five)

(1) Milwaukee Admirals vs. (4) Chicago Wolves: Styles make fights and this is a bad matchup for Chicago. Milwaukee in four.

(2) Texas Stars vs. (3) Grand Rapids Griffins: This division is so top heavy it’s comical. Stars in three.

Central Division Finals (Best of Five)

(1) Milwaukee Admirals vs. (2) Texas Stars: Dead even matchup. Gut says Stars. Texas in five.

North Division First Round (Best of Three)

First Round Byes: Laval Rocket, Rochester Americans, Syracuse Crunch

(4) Toronto Marlies vs. (5) Cleveland Monsters: Penguins fans saw Cleveland goaltender Jet Greaves steal a pair of games against them a few weeks back. That mastery continues in a tight one with Toronto, Monsters in three.

North Division Semifinals (Best of Five)

(1) Laval Rocket vs. (5) Cleveland Monsters: The Rocket won the league in the regular season. I think they are just getting going here. Laval in four.

(2) Rochester Americans vs. (3) Syracuse Crunch: Oh this is a bad matchup for the Crunch. Really bad. Rochester in four.

North Division Finals (Best of Five)

(1) Laval Rocket vs. (2) Rochester Americans: Am I really picking 1-2, 1-2, 1-2 so far for the Division Finals? This is a case against I guess every team and their mother’s team getting in I suppose. Rochester could never be a serious threat for the North Division lead because they constantly played (and lost) to Laval all the time. Rocket in four.

Atlantic Division First Round (Best of Three)

First Round Byes: Hershey Bears, Charlotte Checkers

(3) Providence Bruins vs. (6) Springfield Thunderbirds: As a casual observer of the Providence Bruins body of work, they had equal parts ups and downs. I mean you could pick Springfield here and I wouldn’t stop you and there’s a case for an upset, but Providence in three is the smart choice.

(4) Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins vs. (5) Lehigh Valley Phantoms: If Joel Blomqvist ever wants to be considered an NHL goaltender of the future in the Pittsburgh organization, he has to get past a Lehigh Valley team that swept him last season in the First Round. Ville Koivunen is a lethal threat. Penguins in two.

Atlantic Division Semifinals (Best of Five)

(1) Hershey Bears vs. (4) Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins: Real ones know to expect a war. Who ya got? Hershey has holes that the Penguins can exploit. Wilkes-Barre in four.

(2) Charlotte Checkers vs. (3) Providence Bruins: Remember where I was going with the Bruins and the peaks and the valleys? Checkers in four.

Atlantic Division Finals (Best of Five)

(2) Charlotte Checkers vs. (4) Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins: How much do the Penguins have left in them after an emotional battle with the Bears? They have to beat Charlotte at least twice on the road. It would likely be a 2-3 series with the first two in Wilkes-Barre. Do they steal both at home? Can they beat Charlotte twice in North Carolina? They have to, because I am picking them here. Penguins in five.

Western Conference Finals (Best of Seven)

(2) Abbotsford Canucks vs. (2) Texas Stars: Really struggled with this one. I like the Stars depth, Abbotsford finished the season on a tear. I think the Stars experience wins the day here. Texas in six.

Eastern Conference Finals (Best of Seven)

(1) Laval Rocket vs. (4) Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins: You can make a case that the Penguins become that team of destiny and nothing denies them after taking out the back-to-back champion Hershey Bears. If you are ever going to win it, now is the time to do it. Laval take first two at Place Bell. Penguins fans are in shambles on Facebook and other places. The Pens are down by a 2-0 score heading into the third period in Game 3 in Wilkes-Barre on a Sunday night just because. Avery Hayes and Vasily Ponomarev, held pointless through the first two games, catch fire. Penguins even the series at two, Laval takes Game 5. More shambles on Pens socials as they bus back to Quebec. This Penguins tight knit crew who are on the brink of elimination, button up and Joel Blomqvist dazzles with a shutout in Game 6. Penguins advance in seven.

Calder Cup Finals (Best of Seven)

(2) Texas Stars vs. (4) Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins: Am I writing a fanfic? Have I started drinking again? Is this real life? A lot of Phantoms, Bears, Crunch and other teams fans have always told me that they want to see the Penguins win the Calder Cup. Well, this is their year. I have talked myself into the unthinkable. Not to get derailed by an emotional series with the Rocket that went the distance, Kirk MacDonald has the team laser focused and ready to win. Yeah, but so does Neil Graham and his Texas Stars. They even wrote a book, “We Win Here” So what. The magic of the late 2000’s returns. But instead of a merry band of idiots like Nathan Smith, Deryk Engalland, Kurtis MacLean and Luca Caputi you have bonafide snipers in Vasily Ponomarev, Ville Koivunen, Tristan Broz and BAH GAWD THAT’S JIMMY HUNTINGDON’S MUSIC. As well as Owen Pickering and a rounding into form Harrison Brunicke on defense and a charged up Joel Blomqvist who is lasered in. Penguins in five, Wilkes-Barre wins Calder on home ice and we finally hang a damn banner that matters and shut up all those Hershey fans trash talking us on Facebook secretly cheering us to get one after all these years.

Maybe it’s fantasy. My batting average on these things sucks so bad I can play for the Pittsburgh Pirates. But that’s the way I see it going. I am likely wrong, very wrong, and for that I apologize if you are a Penguins fan and congrats on the Calder Cup, you Ontario Reign fans out there.

It gets going in reality later today with Calgary / Coachella Valley. Buckle up and get ready, buy the ticket and take the ride.