Chirps from Center Ice

A fan blog about the AHL's Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins

Category Archives: The AHL

News on a Monday 12/2

Comments Off on News on a Monday 12/2 Posted by on December 2, 2019

Bunch of stuff to get to on this Monday.

There is a method to the madness. There’s always a reason.

For Noesen, it’s deserved. He’s been a wolf in sheeps clothing all season for the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins. Injuries are piling up by the day for Pittsburgh, hell they can’t even get through practices (Hornqvist, Monday) or morning skates (Rust, Friday) without picking up injuries. Brian Dumoulin had surgery on his ankle tendons Sunday and is shelved eight weeks. It just never ends.

Blandisi hitting waivers means if no one claims him, Noesen will go up. He was in Pittsburgh Monday.

Here’s a quick refresher on Noesen for you if you are just dropping in and aren’t entirely familiar with his body of work. You’ll need to click below for it to open in a separate window for you.

Also, Casey DeSmith was named AHL Goalie of the Month in November. A 7-1 record with a 1.60 GAA and a .951 SV% with two shutouts will do that for you.

I think that covers everything for now.

Pittsburgh, The AHL, WBS

AHL Power Rankings: End of November 2019

Comments Off on AHL Power Rankings: End of November 2019 Posted by on November 28, 2019

Happy Thanksgiving if you are reading this on Thursday. The End of November Chirps from Center Ice AHL Power Rankings are here with a bit of a shakeup as we conclude November this weekend and head into December.

The Milwaukee Admirals are on a tear, and they are your new number one team.

Right behind the Admirals are the ever dangerous Toronto Marlies.

The potent offense and stingy defense of the Tucson Roadrunners are third.

Rochester is fourth followed by Providence in fifth. We could have gone three different directions with four and five each, but pop past the Bruins if you didn’t link in direct to see hwere your favorite team ended up this week.

And if you happen to be Canadian, happy Thursday.

1

 Last Games: MIL 5 @ LAV 2, MIL 4 @ BEL 2, MIL 6 @ IA 5 (SO), MIL 3 @ GR 2, GR 0 @ MIL 5, MB 3 @ MIL 6
Eleven game win streaks will put you at the top of the AHL Power Rankings in a jiffy. There is no stopping the Admirals at this point.

+3

 Next Games: @ SA 11/30, @ TEX 12/1, @ TEX 12/3, vs. IA 12/6, @ RFD 12/7, @ RFD 12/10
Record: 14-3-1-2

2

 Last Games: TEX 4 @ TOR 8, TEX 3 @ TOR 4, LAV 1 @ TOR 2 (OT), MB 2 @ TOR 4, MB 1 @ TOR 4
So the cream is starting to rise here in the North with Toronto picking off six straight wins against some stiffer competition save for Texas (sorry, Stars fans) – Marlies look to keep it rolling as December fires up.

+3

 Next Games: @ ROC 11/29, vs. UTI 11/30, vs. UTI 12/1, @ ROC 12/4, vs. SA 12/7, vs. SA 12/8, @ UTI 12/11
Record: 13-2-2-1

3

 Last Games: TUC 5 @ STK 2, TUC 1 @ SJ 7, TUC 8 @ SJ 2, ONT 1 @ TUC 4, ONT 2 @ TUC 3, TUC 8 @ BAK 3
We’ve been here with Tucson, out to a hot start only to fizzle. This year seems different as the offense is highly potent and explosive. That alone is enough to win you hockey games at this level.

+6

 Next Games: @ SD 11/30, vs. COL 12/3, vs. COL 12/4, @ IA 12/7, @ IA 12/10
Record: 15-4-0-0

4

 Last Games: CLE 2 @ ROC 3 (OT), ROC 4 @ UTI 3, HFD 0 @ ROC 4, ROC 4 @ BNG 2
Unbeaten in their last eight, 7-1-1-1 in their last ten, the Amerks are right there in a dangerous North Division with a slew of other dangerous teams.

+7

 Next Games: vs. TOR 11/29, @ CLE 11/30, vs. TOR 12/4, vs. CHA 12/6, vs. CHA 12/7, vs. WBS 12/11
Record: 12-3-1-2

5

 Last Games: HFD 3 @ PRO 4 (SO), PRO 2 @ HFD 5, BRI 0 @ PRO 5, PRO 4 @ SPR 5 (OT), HER 3 @ PRO 6, PRO 7 @ HER 6 (SO)
Bruins are winning and if not, getting points. The same thing that Hartford was doing at the start of the season and now look, Providence sit at the top of the Atlantic.

+7

 Next Games: @ CHA 11/30, @ CHA 12/1, vs. BNG 12/6, vs. UTI 12/7, vs. HFD 12/8, vs. SYR 12/11
Record: 12-7-1-2

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Power Rankings

Wednesday Updates, Spotty Friday’s

1 Comment Posted by on November 20, 2019

Tyler had some update from Penguins practice Thursday I figured I would pass along if you don’t already follow his beat.

Healthiest the club has been in a while, but for a few call-ups to Pittsburgh.

One of the early knocks on Joseph was the fact that he was as thin as a beanpole so as far as this type of illness, not the best thing for an athlete trying to put and keep weight and muscle on.

Jamie Devane is, in fact, what classifies as a veteran. With a team right now cycling in any combination of Joseph Cramarossa, Ryan Haggerty and Andreas Martinsen as their excess vet who gets in, a return from injury isn’t the only thing Devane has working against him.

They kind of re-debuted that on Saturday when Larmi backed up Dustin Tokarski.

These were from Tuesday and were all over the place social medially….

That made #2 on SportsCenter this morning.

Also,

It’s Emil Larmi, in case you didn’t know.

Pens will likely leave for Springfield Thursday for their game Friday against the Thunderbirds in Massachusetts. I will not have up to date tweets on the game because we have business partners affiliated with my big boy job taking us out to dinner. I don’t go all the time (they only come in to take us out as a group before Tanksgiving, and I only go if the Pens are on the road) so I am going this year. I’ll have some type of write-up about the action here for you Friday night.

If you are looking for Twitter coverage, Pens and Thunderbirds official Twitters should have you covered. From the Thunderbirds perspective, my friend Katy tweets every Thunderbirds home game and is a very good follow.

I’ll be back at the game calls Saturday when the Penguins host the reigning, defending, undisputed Calder Cup Champion Charlotte Checkers Saturday night.

More Friday after the game, sooner if I need to break in for news.

The AHL, WBS, Wheeling

AHL Power Rankings: Mid-November 2019

3 Comments Posted by on November 14, 2019

We are halfway through November and just two weeks away from American Thanksgiving and there has been some shake up in the Power Rankings.

Hartford and Springfield were the first teams in the Eastern Conference to ten wins. I don’t think anyone predicted that a month ago. They are winning with goaltending and the ability to win close games in regulation, unlike some teams who play close games but can’t either get that extra goal or that extra point.

Tucson was the first AHL team to ten wins this season and while they are not in the top five this week, they are in the top ten.

Top five go this way this week; Hartford, the leaders in the Atlantic look to widen the gap while other teams in the division figure things out.

Stockton, firing in over four goals a game, are locked in an early battle with Tucson, who they have seen a ton of recently, are second this week.

Laval, the surprise team in the AHL so far, are third and lead the North Division. They are a lot like Hartford that even in defeat they are piling up loser points.

Milwaukee is fourth this week. They are hot in a division which has gone cold.

Discount Toronto, our fifth place team this week, at your peril.

After the Marlies, jump in and see where your favorite team ended up this week if you didn’t link in direct. Enjoy.

1

 Last Games: HFD 1 @ LAV 2 (SO), HFD 4 @ BEL 5 (SO), HER 1 @ HFD 2, BEL 4 @ HFD 3 (SO), HFD 2 @ PRO 1
Don’t adjust your computer screens, this is a very good team. Even in losses, they get points.

+2

 Next Games: @ PRO 11/15, vs. PRO 11/16, vs. SYR 11/20, @ ROC 11/22, @ SYR 11/23
Record: 10-1-0-4

2

 Last Games: SJ 2 @ STK 3 (SO), TUC 4 @ STK 3 (OT), STK 2 @ TUC 3 (SO), STK 6 @ TUC 7, SD 3 @ STK 6
Tops in goals for (an eye popping 4.08) and also in power play have the Heat just running teams over in the Pacific. It’s going to be fun watching them counter punch with Tucson in this battle through the winter.

+3

 Next Games: vs. TUC 11/15, vs. SJ 11/16, @ BAK 11/21, @ SD 11/23, @ ONT 11/27
Record: 8-2-1-2

3

 Last Games: HFD 1 @ LAV 2 (SO), TOR 5 @ LAV 6 (SO), LAV 2 @ CLE 1, LAV 4 @ CLE 0, BEL 5 @ LAV 4 (OT)
I think it’s safe to call Laval the surprise team in the the North a month and a half into 2019-20. Rocket lead the North with 20 points and even in defeat are getting points.

+13

 Next Games: vs. MIL 11/15, vs. BRI 11/16, @ TOR 11/20, vs. UTI 11/22, vs. UTI 11/23, @ BEL 11/27
Record: 9-5-2-0

4

 Last Games: IA 1 @ MIL 0, CHI 2 @ MIL 5, MB 4 @ MIL 6, MIL 3 @ SA 1, MIL 4 @ SA 3 (SO), CHI 3 @ MIL 6
Admirals sit atop the Central in the middle of November. Their run of seven wins in their last ten game shot them there. Interesting games ahead for Milwaukee.

+7

 Next Games: @ LAV 11/15, @ BEL 11/16, @ IA 11/19, @ GR 11/22, vs. GR 11/23, vs. MB 11/27
Record: 9-3-1-2

5

 Last Games: TOR 7 @ BEL 4, TOR 5 @ LAV 6 (SO), TOR 1 @ RFD 3, TOR 1 @ GR 4, TOR 5 @ GR 2
Marlies are setting up fine, just two regulation losses and don’t have to travel at all now till Thanksgiving. Who thought that the Laval Rocket would be keeping pace with Toronto like this?

-3

 Next Games: vs. TEX 11/16, vs. TEX 11/17, vs. LAV 11/20, vs. MB 11/23, vs. MB 11/24
Record: 8-2-2-1

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Power Rankings

AHL Power Rankings: End of October 2019

Comments Off on AHL Power Rankings: End of October 2019 Posted by on October 31, 2019

So we are through October and there is one team that hasn’t lost at all and a team that hasn’t won at all.

Somewhere in between, unless you are a fan of the Utica Comets or the San Diego Gulls, is your team.

Early days as the calendar flips to November, so take these Rankings and hope that your club stays in the top half if you are there or hope that your club jumps into the top half if you are near the bottom.

Moral of the story is that nothing really gets figured out before Christmas. But, some teams are already digging themselves a deep hole.

Toronto, Hartford, Iowa and Stockton round out the top five this week. We kind of expected Toronto to be good, Hartford and Stockton are a bit of a surprise and Iowa picked up where they left off last season.

After the Heat, click through the jump if you didn’t link in direct.

1

 Last Games: CHA 2 @ UTI 8, ROC 1 @ UTI 7, BNG 1 @ UTI 5, UTI 2 @ HER 1 (SO), BNG 1 @ UTI 3
The lone unblemished team are your Utica Comets. Utica is a complete team and are getting lights out goaltending from Zane McIntyre who has five of those eight Comets wins.

+2

 Next Games: vs. PRO 11/1, vs. ROC 11/2, @ BNG 11/6, vs. WBS 11/8, @ BNG 11/9, vs. SYR 11/11
Record: 8-0-0-0

2

 Last Games: CLE 0 @ TOR 2, CLE 5 @ TOR 6 (SO), TOR 2 @ BNG 3 (OT), TOR 3 @ SYR 4 (OT)
Pair of OT losses to close out the weekend, but the Marlies still haven’t lost in regulation. They may stay that way until at least that weekend trip to Grand Rapids.

-1

 Next Games: @ BEL 11/1, @ LAV 11/2, @ RFD 11/6, @ GR 11/8, @ GR 11/9
Record: 6-0-2-0

3

 Last Games: SPR 0 @ HFD 1, HFD 4 @ BNG 3 (OT), LAV 1 @ HFD 2 (OT), BRI 1 @ HFD 4, HFD 2 @ BRI 1 (OT), HFD 1 @ LAV 4
Dealt their first loss Wednesday in Laval. Lead the Atlantic. Early days, but they may be onto something in Hartford. Talk to us in a month.

+2

 Next Games: @ LAV 11/1, @ BEL 11/2, vs. HER 11/8, vs. BEL 11/9, @ PRO 11/10
Record: 8-1-0-1

4

 Last Games: IA 6 @ MB 4, IA 4 @ MB 2, IA 1 @ TUC 3, IA 1 @ TUC 2 (OT), IA 4 @ GR 3 (OT)
Wild at the top of the Central isn’t a fluke. This is a solid team from top to bottom. Problem is, there’s no separation because the division as a whole is stacked.

n/a

 Next Games: @ MIL 11/1, @ RFD 11/2, vs. CHI 11/7, vs. ONT 11/9, vs. ONT 11/10
Record: 6-1-1-1

5

 Last Games: STK 5 @ SD 1, STK 4 @ BAK 3, BAK 3 @ STK 2 (SO), STK 6 @ BAK 3
Heat remain hot as October closes out. The run should continue but those three with Tucson could prove to be early tests for both teams.

+1

 Next Games: vs. SJ 11/1, vs. TUC 11/2, @ TUC 11/8, @ TUC 11/19, vs. SD 11/11
Record: 6-1-0-1

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Power Rankings

Tuesday Transactions

1 Comment Posted by on October 22, 2019

There was a lot of activity on Coal Street Tuesday.

Well this doesn’t make sense. The Pens already have Ben Sexton in town and Pittsburgh skated with 14 forwards on Monday which means some combination of Joseph Blandisi, Adam Johnson or Sam Lafferty are headed back soon.

But wait….

That explains the Hawkins recall.

Later…

Now Wilkes-Barre has Zach Trotman down on a conditioning assignment for six days (three games essentially, at Binghamton Wednesday, home vs. San Antonio Friday and Saturday). Because Trotman had the LTIR tag associated with him as part of the assignment, it is different than a straight up conditioning assignment where the player had been a healthy scratch night in and night out prior to the assignment.

Roster jockeying, tea leaves and conditioning assignments. It’s not even November.

Binghamton Wednesday night. Gameday setup here on the blog Wednesday at 3.

Pittsburgh, The AHL, WBS, Wheeling

AHL Power Rankings: Mid-October 2019

4 Comments Posted by on October 17, 2019

You know as I was doing these first Chirps from Center Ice AHL Power Rankings for the 2019-20 season, I kind of missed doing these weekly. However, for now, I am committed to running these bi-weekly as opposed to weekly to start. If you really want these to go back to weekly, let me know down in the comments section and I’ll see what I can do. The Power Rankings portion of the blog content is the most up in the air feature I have here. It isn’t going away, I just don’t know where to put it or when to run it anymore.

Anyway, with that out of the way, it’s time to see where your favorite team sits two weeks into the season. There are two undefeated teams and two teams still sitting on preseason points (0).

The Marlies, of course, are the early class of the field. Toronto is out to a 4-0 start after a pair of wins over Manitoba and victories over Belleville and Hershey to start the season.

The San Antonio Rampage, yes, the Rampage, are out to a 3-0-0-1 start and lead the Central Division which is as wide open as far as where you’d expect contenders to be early on.

Utica is the other undefeated team in the league and are third. You have to like the early start that the Comets are on.

Iowa hits the ground running and are out to a great start as well and are fourth and the surprise leader at the top of the Atlantic are the Hartford Wolf Pack which round out the top five.

Hit the jump past the Wolf Pack if you didn’t link in direct to see where your favorite team sits just two weeks into this early season.

1

 Last Games: BEL 1 @ TOR 4, TOR 3 @ MTB 2, TOR 4 @ MTB 0, HER 3 @ TOR 4
Toronto debuts at number one this season after a 4-0 start, tying a franchise record. The Marlies are beating all types of teams. Monsters stop by this weekend.

Next Games: vs. CLE 10/19, vs. CLE 10/20, @ BNG 10/26, @ SYR 10/27
Record: 4-0-0-0

2

 Last Games: MTB 1 @ SA 2, TUC 2 @ SA 5, CHI 0 @ SA 3, CHI 2 @ SA 1 (SO)
Raise your hand if you thought that the Rampage would have points in all of their contests. Now put your hand down, you liar.

Next Games: @ TUC 10/18, @ TUC 10/19, @ WBS 10/25, @ WBS 10/26, @ RFD 10/30
Record: 3-0-0-1

3

 Last Games: UTI 4 @ BNG 3, UTI 4 @ WBS 3 (OT), SYR 2 @ UTI 6
Comets are 3-0 and off to an undefeated start. Utica stays busy over the next two weeks against some good competition.

Next Games: vs. CHA 10/18, vs. RCH 10/19, vs. BNG 10/25, @ HER 10/26, vs. BNG 10/30
Record: 3-0-0-0

4

 Last Games: RFD 2 @ IA 3, MIL 2 @ IA 5, TEX 4 @ IA 5 (SO), TEX 2 @ IA 1 (SO)
Points in all of their games, which have been four at this point, has to feel good for Tim Army’s crew as the season kicks off. No rest for the weary, as Iowa has five games inbound in the next two weeks.

Next Games: @ MTB 10/18, @ MTB 10/19, @ TUC 10/25, @ TUC 10/26, @ GR 10/30
Record: 3-0-0-1

5

 Last Games: CHA 3 @ HFD 5, BRI 3 @ HFD 4 (OT), SPR 1 @ HFD 3, RCH 3 @ HFD 2 (SO)
Hartford are still unbeaten in regulation. How long does this run continue? Busy week with some healthy competition coming up for the Wolf Pack.

Next Games: vs. SPR 10/18, @ BNG 10/19, vs. LAV 10/25, vs. BRI 10/26, @ BRI 10/27, @ LAV 10/30
Record: 3-0-0-1

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Power Rankings

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