Chirps from Center Ice

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

Category Archives: The AHL

AHL Power Rankings: Week 11

Comments Off on AHL Power Rankings: Week 11 Posted by on December 20, 2018

Some shakeups this week to the Top Five in the Week 11 Chirps from Center Ice AHL Power Rankings.

The San Jose Barracuda hit a bump in the road against the San Diego Gulls and drop out of the top spot this week. They are replaced by, who else, the Charlotte Checkers. The Checkers remain the AHL’s best, most complete team. They face a stiff test when Bridgeport comes to town this weekend though.

North Division leading Rochester jump to the two spot. The Amerks have been a bit underrated in these Rankings. They lead their division by five right now, so they have our attention.

Milwaukee sits fourth after making the best out of some sticky situations. They are followed by the pesky Colorado Eagles who continue to impress.

Jump past the Eagles to see the rest of the Rankings if you didn’t link in direct.

1

 Last Week: HFD 0 @ CHA 1, HFD 2 @ CHA 3, UTI 1 @ CHA 2 (OT), UTI 4 @ CHA 3 (OT)
Checkers continue to just plow opponents. Bridgeport in this weekend in a very important battle of the Atlantic’s top teams.

+1

 This Week: vs. BRI 12/21, vs. BRI 12/22
Record: 22-6-2-0

2

 Last Week: CLE 1 @ RCH 3, RCH 2 @ CLE 1 (OT), BEL 5 @ RCH 4
That loss to Belleville Wednesday has to stink but the Amerks have a five point lead over Utica in the North right now so it’s OK, for now.

+2

 This Week: vs. HFD 12/21, vs. HFD 12/22, @ CLE 12/26
Record: 18-8-2-0

3

 Last Week: SJ 3 @ SD 4 (SO), SJ 5 @ ONT 2, SJ 1 @ SD 6
First regulation loss for San Jose since November 10 with Wednesday’s setback to San Diego, a team that got the Barracuda twice this week. Two big games with the Roadrunners, smarting from the unsuccessful trip to Rosemont last weekend, coming up this week.

-2

 This Week: vs. TUC 12/21, vs. TUC 12/22
Record: 16-4-1-3

4

 Last Week: TEX 2 @ MIL 3 (OT), MIL 4 @ GR 5 (SO), MIL 3 @ RFD 4 (OT)
It doesn’t look pretty, but the Admirals have points in four straight games and lead the Central by three over Chicago and Iowa. Wolves are on the schedule twice this week.

+2

 This Week: vs. CHI 12/22, vs. CHI 12/26
Record: 16-9-5-1

5

 Last Week: COL 4 @ ONT 3 (OT)
Eagles continue to roll. Quiet week, big OT win in Ontario. One game, no problem. Return home to host Bakersfield this weekend.

+3

 This Week: vs. BAK 12/21, vs. BAK 12/22
Record: 14-8-3-1

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Power Rankings

Tuesday Notes 12/18

Comments Off on Tuesday Notes 12/18 Posted by on December 18, 2018

A couple things to catch you up on here before the midweek game against Bridgeport Wednesday night. Here goes:

Dave Hakstol is out as head coach in Philly and the Flyers hire from within and tab Lehigh Valley Phantoms head coach Scott Gordon as interim coach in Philadelphia.

Staying with the, “next man up” idea, Kerry Huffman, an assistant of Gordon’s in Allentown, is the new man behind the Phantoms bench, for now. The release says that they are looking for a new head coach.

Basically how that is going to go is that Huffman will get 5-7 games as head coach. If the Phantoms do good in those games, he keeps the job. If not, they look for someone new.

Back locally, J-S Dea was re-assigned down from Pittsburgh Tuesday morning.

Also, Garrett Wilson is on waivers. If he goes unclaimed, Pittsburgh can send him here. If he does, don’t look for it to happen immediately. The NHL holiday roster freeze is coming. Pittsburgh wants that flexibility in case they get a healthy forward or two back from injury.

Tyler reports that Thomas DiPauli is week to week. He joins other week to weekers Sam Miletic and Chris Summers.

Wilkes-Barre should be OK for now, getting Dea and possibly Wilson back.

Old buddy Tom Sestito comes out of retirement and signs on with the Toronto Marlies. In case you are wondering, Wilkes-Barre and Toronto don’t lock up again until March 17.

Bridgeport is in Wednesday and will be without the services of Stephen Gionta, who was suspended three games by the AHL for boarding in Sunday’s game. Gionta was the one that injured or finished off Thomas DiPauli, who you will recall was stung by a Kevin Czuczman shot in the first period on Sunday, was tangled with with Gionta in the second and didn’t return. Coal Street must have thought the hit was egregious enough to warrant a review by the brain trust in Springfield and the gamble worked. There was no penalty on the play.

Here is the play in GIF form courtesy of the fine folks at Let’s Go Amerks:

Finally, Friday’s game at Hershey will be the AHL’s Facebook Watch Game of the Week. It’s free to anyone who has a Facebook account. Hershey’s feed is one of the best in the AHL with multiple angles and has been broadcast in high definition for years now. Check it out if you can find the time Friday.

Gameday setup will hit the blog for Wednesday’s game with Bridgeport at 3 p.m. Until then.

Let’s Go Pens!

Pittsburgh, The AHL, WBS

AHL Power Rankings: Week 10

Comments Off on AHL Power Rankings: Week 10 Posted by on December 13, 2018

We are ten weeks into the AHL season and it looks like there are two ends of the spectrum to be had.

San Jose, Charlotte, Iowa and some combination of Rochester and Syracuse are really really good while San Diego, Toronto and Laval are struggling.

Now is there time to turn things around if you are in the bottom third? Of course there is. They haven’t even named All-Stars yet and the action doesn’t really start cranking until after that anyhow.

San Jose jumps to the top spot in this weeks Rankings followed closely by Charlotte who, after a blip last week, jump back to second. Syracuse and Rochester fill the top four while Tucson, who we criminally underrated last week by dropping them out of the top ten, goes back to where they belong in the top five.

Go past the Roadrunners if you didn’t link in direct to see where your favorite team ended up this week.

1

 Last Week: SJ 4 @ BAK 2, BAK 0 @ SJ 4
A rightful number one spot for San Jose this week after crushing Bakersfield this past week. Barracuda have only three losses. (!!!)

+1

 This Week: @ SD 12/15, @ ONT 12/16, @ SD 12/19
Record: 15-3-1-2

2

 Last Week: CHA 7 @ HFD 4, CHA 5 @ SPR 4 (OT)
Saturday’s last second comeback victory in Springfield is sure to open the eyes of the doubters that this Checkers team should be taken and kept seriously.

+4

 This Week: vs. HFD 12/13, vs. HFD 12/15, vs. UTI 12/16, vs. UTI 12/18
Record: 19-6-1-0

3

 Last Week: BNG 0 @ SYR 5, RCH 4 @ SYR 3, SYR 8 @ TOR 1
Crunch stay third this week with big wins against lesser talented teams. They can’t seem to catch Rochester just yet though.

n/a

 This Week: @ LAV 12/14, @ LAV 12/15, @ SPR 12/19
Record: 14-6-2-0

4

 Last Week: PRO 1 @ RCH 2, RCH 4 @ SYR 3, BNG 5 @ RCH 1
Amerks stay four clear of second place Crunch here in mid-December. Two tough matchups with Cleveland coming up.

+4

 This Week: vs. CLE 12/14, @ CLE 12/15, vs. BEL 12/19
Record: 16-7-2-0

5

 Last Week: ONT 3 @ TUC 4 (SO), ONT 0 @ TUC 5, COL 1 @ TUC 2, COL 2 @ TUC 0
Played two tight ones with Colorado. San Jose may be the class of the AHL now, but watching Tucson and Colorado battle it out is going to be fun.

+9

 This Week: @ CHI 12/15, @ CHI 12/16
Record: 15-6-2-1

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Power Rankings

AHL Power Rankings: Week 9

Comments Off on AHL Power Rankings: Week 9 Posted by on December 6, 2018

Normally when we look at the Weekly Chirps from Center Ice AHL Power Rankings, we focus on the top five teams.

We will get to them, but there are three teams not in the top five that need to get some love. They are Milwaukee (13th) Springfield (12th) and Tucson (14th) – all are deserving of being in the top ten this week, but there is a flood of teams that I’m, at least this week, giving some love to. So don’t despair if you happen to be a fan of these consistently good teams.

To this weeks top five, Iowa has been the most consistent team of late, San Jose has just lost three times in regulation, Syracuse hasn’t lost in regulation since October 27 and Bridgeport and Providence are on tears.

Pop past the Bruins to see where the other teams shook out this week.

1

 Last Week: IA 2 @ COL 3 (SO), IA 3 @ COL 2 (SO), CHI 4 @ IA 3 (OT)
Look at those four losses that Iowa have. Other than San Jose (3) there is no other team in the AHL that doesn’t get points one way or another. Iowa is your new number one team this week and unless they start spilling L’s everywhere, they may stay here for a bit.

+1

 This Week: vs. CHI 12/7, vs. GR 12/8, @ TEX 12/12
Record: 13-4-4-2

2

 Last Week: SJ 6 @ STK 4, SD 3 @ SJ 5
Six game point streak has the Barracuda at the top of the Pacific. San Jose hasn’t lost in regulation since November 10.

+1

 This Week: @ BAK 12/8, vs. BAK 12/9
Record: 13-3-1-2

3

 Last Week: SYR 3 @ CLE 4 (OT), SYR 5 @ CLE 3
Crunch didn’t lose a single game in regulation in November and their December is off to a similar start. December 8 matchup with Rochester is looming large.

+2

 This Week: vs. BNG 12/7, vs. RCH 12/8, @ TOR 12/12
Record: 12-5-2-0

4

 Last Week: PRO 2 @ BRI 1 (OT), BRI 5 @ SPR 4 (OT), HFD 1 @ BRI 2
Got points with every contest this week and with Charlotte’s struggles, close to three points from the top of the Atlantic.

+6

 This Week: @ WBS 12/8
Record: 14-7-3-1

5

 Last Week: CHA 1 @ PRO 2, PRO 2 @ BRI 1 (OT), CHA 3 @ PRO 2 (OT), PRO 5 @ TOR 0
Providence continues to rise through the Atlantic on a 7-1-2-0 tear. Took three of four points from leader Charlotte and flat out embarrassed Toronto on Wednesday.

+4

 This Week: @ RCH 12/7, @ BEL 12/8, @ UTI 12/12
Record: 10-8-4-0

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Power Rankings

AHL Power Rankings: Week 8

Comments Off on AHL Power Rankings: Week 8 Posted by on November 29, 2018

As we turn the page towards December, one thing has been certain through the first eight weeks of the season.

The Charlotte Checkers are really good.

The Checkers reclaim the top spot in the Chirps from Center Ice AHL Power Rankings after a brief two week hiatus in the runner-up spot.

Iowa drops to second, although fans in Des Moines have a gripe with the Politburo because the Wild took points in every contest this week.

Top five regulars San Jose and Springfield are three and four and Syracuse and their deadly power play debut in the top five.

Hit the jump past the Crunch if you didn’t link in direct to see where the other 26 teams ended up this week.

1

 Last Week: BEL 2 @ CHA 3 (OT), LAV 2 @ CHA 4, LAV 1 @ CHA 3
OK, OK, the Checkers have forced our hands and are at the top of the Power Rankings after a brief two week hiatus. The Checkers have not found a worthy opponent yet. Trap games coming up this weekend?

+1

 This Week: @ PRO 11/30, @ HFD 12/1, @ PRO 12/2
Record: 16-4-1-0

2

 Last Week: IA 2 @ MIL 3 (SO), IA 3 MTB 4 (OT), IA 3 @ MTB 2, GR 3 @ IA 2 (OT)
Points in every contest this week for Iowa, who drop one place this week, but those loser points cost the Wild the top spot in the Central. Heading to Loveland for a pair this weekend for an interesting matchup against the Eagles.

-1

 This Week: @ COL 11/30, @ COL 12/1, vs. CHI 12/5
Record: 12-4-3-1

3

 Last Week: SJ 3 @ COL 4 (OT), SJ 3 @ COL 4 (SO), STK 2 @ SJ 4
Barracuda get back to the top of the Pacific despite setbacks in Loveland, Colorado this past weekend.

+1

 This Week: @ STK 12/1, vs. SD 12/3
Record: 11-3-1-2

4

 Last Week: WBS 3 @ SPR 4 (OT), SYR 3 @ SPR 0, SPR 3 @ BRI 4, BRI 2 @ SPR 5
Styles make fights, and the Thunderbirds have the number of the Sound Tigers right now, who take four points away from their Atlantic Division foes.

+2

 This Week: @ HER 12/1, vs. BRI 12/2
Record: 11-6-0-2

5

 Last Week: SYR 4 @ BNG 1, BNG 3 @ SYR 5, SYR 3 @ SPR 0
Don’t look now but the Crunch are 9-0-1 in their last ten and ripping their way through the North Division on the way to surpass Rochester for tops. The power play is something to see and Syracuse seem to have found their legs. Two this week with Cleveland.

+6

 This Week: @ CLE 11/30, @ CLE 12/1
Record: 11-5-1-0

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Power Rankings

AHL Power Rankings: Week 7

Comments Off on AHL Power Rankings: Week 7 Posted by on November 21, 2018

A little Thanksgiving Eve Chirps from Center Ice AHL Power Rankings for you on a Wednesday. Next week, we will return to our regularly scheduled Thursday.

There is a new number number one this week and they are the Iowa Wild. The Wild lead the Central Division.

Charlotte remains in second this week, we had them at #1 when we ate dinner Tuesday night, see what changed our minds.

Bridgeport jumps into the top five in third followed by San Jose and Milwaukee.

After the Admirals, jump through to see where your favorite team ended up if you didn’t link in direct.

1

 Last Week: MIL 0 @ IA 6, IA 4 @ CHI 3 (OT)
Tim Army has the Wild in first place in the Central heading into the final week of November looking to stay there. It’s a mix of great goaltending and goal scoring. Simple, right?

+3

 This Week: @ MIL 11/21, @ MTB 11/23, @ MTB 11/24, vs. GR 11/26
Record: 11-4-1-0

2

 Last Week: CHA 2 @ WBS 1, CHA 6 @ WBS 5 (OT), BEL 5 @ CHA 1
We had Charlotte back at #1 again this week until the Belleville blowout. Checkers remain at number two for another week.

n/a

 This Week: vs. BEL 11/21, vs. LAV 11/24, vs. LAV 11/25
Record: 13-4-1-0

3

 Last Week: BRI 2 @ LAV 1 (SO), BRI 2 @ BEL 1
Sweep through Canada. Are probably the only legitimate threat to Charlotte right now.

+3

 This Week: vs. HFD 11/23, @ HFD 11/24, vs. SPR 11/25, @ SPR 11/28
Record: 11-5-2-0

4

 Last Week: COL 0 @ SJ 5
Barracuda get right back on the horse after last weeks setback in Tucson and shutout Colorado in their only action this past week. A pair more with Colorado before the Heat drop by.

+4

 This Week: @ COL 11/23, @ COL 11/24, vs. STK 11/27
Record: 10-3-0-1

5

 Last Week: MIL 0 @ IA 6, ONT 1 @ MIL 2
Admirals split the week. Another one this week with Iowa for tops in the Central Division.

+2

 This Week: vs. IA 11/21, @ GR 11/23, vs. RFD 11/24
Record: 10-6-3-0

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Power Rankings

AHL Power Rankings: Week 6

Comments Off on AHL Power Rankings: Week 6 Posted by on November 15, 2018

Let’s get some housekeeping out of the way real quick. Due to American Thanksgiving on next Thursday, the Chirps from Center Ice AHL Power Rankings will be moved up one day. Look for them here on the blog on Wednesday, November 21.

On to this weeks Rankings. There is a new number one team this week for the first time all season. Rochester replaces Charlotte as the Amerks and Checkers swap spots this week.

Tucson, after a slip up a few weeks ago with Colorado, move to number three this week after a pair of shutout wins over Pacific Division leading San Jose.

Iowa moves up one and Lehigh Valley round out the top five. After the Phantoms, hit the jump if you didn’t link in direct to see where all the other teams filled out this week.

1

 Last Week: SYR 2 @ RCH 3 (OT)
Light week last week, with an OT win at home against Syracuse. Three in three through the Atlantic Northeast this weekend.

+1

 This Week: @ SPR 11/16, @ PRO 11/17, @ HFD 11/18
Record: 10-3-1-0

2

 Last Week: CHA 3 @ BNG 4, CHA 7 @ LV 4, CHA 2 @ BRI 4, CHA 2 @ LV 3 (OT)
Checkers drop two games this week and for the first time all season are not the number one team in the Power Rankings. Chance to make it back to the top this weekend in Wilkes-Barre and at home against Belleville Tuesday.

-1

 This Week: @ WBS 11/16, @ WBS 11/17, vs. BEL 11/20
Record: 11-3-1-0

3

 Last Week: SJ 0 @ TUC 5, SJ 0 @ TUC 1
Impressive shutout wins over division leader San Jose. We think whatever maladies that afflicted the Roadrunners in Colorado last weekend are past them.

+6

 This Week: @ STK 11/16, vs. STK 11/20
Record: 9-3-0-1

4

 Last Week: BAK 5 @ IA 4 (OT), BAK 4 @ IA 3, MIL 0 @ IA 3
Split a series with the Condors then shut out the Admirals. Are second in the Central and host Milwaukee in a rematch Friday.

+1

 This Week: vs. MIL 11/16, @ CHI 11/17
Record: 9-4-1-0

5

 Last Week: SPR 2 @ LV 8, CHA 7 @ LV 4, CHA 2 @ LV 3 (OT)
Phantoms are good at run and gun, something that most teams are not good at or try to stay away from. Light-ish week coming up.

+2

 This Week: @ PRO 11/16, @ SPR 11/17
Record: 8-4-1-1

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Power Rankings

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