Chirps from Center Ice

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

Category Archives: The AHL

Garrett Wilson Suspended Two Games

Comments Off on Garrett Wilson Suspended Two Games Posted by on January 3, 2019

On Thursday, the American Hockey League doled out punishment for this hit that Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins captain Garrett Wilson laid on Binghamton Devils Nathan Bastian this past Monday up in Binghamton.

Here is the hit which got Wilson the suspension.

Of note, Wilson was assessed a Match Penalty for an Illegal Check to the Head at the time and was thrown out of the game. Nathan Bastian returned to the game after going to the bench.

Wilson was suspended two games. He will miss Friday at home against Grand Rapids and Saturday at home against Milwaukee and will be eligible to return next Friday when the Pens are in action in Charlotte for a pair of games against the Checkers.

The AHL, WBS

AHL Power Rankings: Week 13

Comments Off on AHL Power Rankings: Week 13 Posted by on January 3, 2019

There are a few new fresh teams in the top ten this week in the Week 13 edition of the Chirps from Center Ice AHL Power Rankings but the top five, absent of Iowa replacing Rochester, remain intact.

Charlotte remains number one again, because it’s a day that ends in y.

San Jose bumps up to second after getting a bit of breathing room on second place in the Pacific.

Iowa runs from the tenth spot last week to the top three after running over fourth place Chicago.

Bridgeport rounds out the top five. Jump past the Sound Tigers if you didn’t link in direct to see where your favorite team ended up.

1

 Last Week: CHA 2 @ LAV 4, CHA 5 @ LAV 4 (OT), CHA 4 @ TOR 5 (OT)
This team is just collecting points, no matter the cost. Canada trip continues through the weekend.

n/a

 This Week: @ BEL 1/4, @ BEL 1/5, @ TOR 1/6
Record: 24-8-3-0

2

 Last Week: COL 1 @ SJ 3, SD 5 @ SJ 1, SJ 6 @ STK 5
San Jose is opening up a bit now on second place Tucson but the two hottest teams in the Pacific are the division leading Barracuda and the San Diego Gulls. Oh, and they meet this Friday in San Diego.

+1

 This Week: @ SD 1/4, @ ONT 1/5, vs. ONT 1/9
Record: 19-6-1-3

3

 Last Week: MIL 1 @ IA 3, CHI 1 @ IA 3, IA 3 @ CHI 1
We are never going to get tired of watching Iowa and Chicago duke it out at the top of the Central Division.

+7

 This Week: vs. RFD 1/4, @ RFD 1/6, @ SA 1/9
Record: 19-8-4-3

4

 Last Week: CHI 4 @ RFD 2, RFD 1 @ CHI 2 (OT), CHI 1 @ IA 3, IA 3 @ CHI 1
Two of the hottest teams in the Central meet this weekend in Rosemont when the 7-2-1 in their last ten Chicago Wolves play host to the 7-3 San Antonio Rampage.

n/a

 This Week: vs. SA 1/4, vs. SA 1/5
Record: 20-11-3-1

5

 Last Week: HFD 2 @ BRI 3, BRI 4 @ SPR 3, BRI 3 @ HFD 2 (OT), BRI 4 @ RCH 5 (SO)
Let a full two points get away from them with :12 left Wednesday in Rochester. Trip through New York continues this weekend.

n/a

 This Week: @ SYR 1/4, @ BNG 1/5
Record: 21-9-4-2

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Power Rankings

AHL Power Rankings: Week 12

Comments Off on AHL Power Rankings: Week 12 Posted by on December 27, 2018

Nothing really changed in Week 12 of the Chirps from Center Ice AHL Power Rankings this week to the top three. Charlotte, Rochester and San Jose respectively remain one two and three in this weeks edition.

The Chicago Wolves, probably the hottest team in the AHL right now, sit fourth followed by Bridgeport who narrowly beats out sixth place Syracuse for the fifth spot.

Pop past the Sound Tigers to get to the Crunch and beyond if you didn’t link in direct and have a happy and safe New Year holiday.

1

 Last Week: BRI 6 @ CHA 1, BRI 1 @ CHA 3
Trap games coming up to close out 2018 for the AHL’s best team?

n/a

 This Week: @ LAV 12/28, @ LAV 12/29, @ TOR 12/31
Record: 23-7-2-0

2

 Last Week: HFD 4 @ RCH 2, HFD 5 @ RCH 1, RCH 4 @ CLE 0
Bumpy week where the Amerks were swept by the Wolf Pack in testy affairs, but Rochester remains on top of the North heading into 2019.

n/a

 This Week: vs. TOR 12/28, @ UTI 12/29, vs. BRI 1/2
Record: 19-10-2-0

3

 Last Week: TUC 3 @ SJ 4 (OT), TUC 4 @ SJ 3
Tough series with Tucson but San Jose comes out of it OK, two up on the Roadrunners as we break into 2019.

n/a

 This Week: vs. COL 12/27, vs. SD 12/30, @ STK 12/31
Record: 17-5-1-3

4

 Last Week: RFD 5 @ CHI 4 (OT), CHI 3 @ MIL 1, CHI 4 @ MIL 1
Wolves on a tear while everyone else in the division is stuck in second gear. Yet, they lead second place Iowa by just one point.

+4

 This Week: @ RFD 12/28, vs. RFD 12/29, @ IA 12/31, vs. IA 1/2
Record: 18-9-3-1

5

 Last Week: BRI 6 @ CHA 1, BRI 1 @ CHA 3
Split with Charlotte and looked OK in the process. Are the Sound Tigers for real this year?

+1

 This Week: vs. HFD 12/27, @ SPR 12/28, @ HFD 12/29, @ RCH 1/2
Record: 18-9-4-1

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Power Rankings

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

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