Chirps from Center Ice

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

Category Archives: The AHL

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

AHL Power Rankings: Week 5

1 Comment Posted by on November 8, 2018

One change to the top five but no change at the top for the fifth week in a row here at the Chirps from Center Ice AHL Power Rankings.

No surprise the Charlotte Checkers, the first team to ten wins, remains the top team in the Rankings.

Springfield and Rochester swap spots. The Thunderbirds were the last AHL team to suffer a regulation loss (to Bridgeport Saturday)

San Jose moves up one. The Barracuda are a solid team that not a lot of people talk about.

Iowa moves into the top five this week. Jump past them if you want to see where the rest of the teams ended up this week.

1

 Last Week: PRO 3 @ CHA 4, PRO 2 @ CHA 3
First team to ten wins, Checkers are just buzzing teams down. Busy road schedule this week.

n/a

 This Week: @ BNG 11/9, @ LV 11/10, @ BRI 11/11, @ LV 11/14
Record: 10-1-0-0

2

 Last Week: HER 4 @ RCH 2, RCH 4 @ HER 1, CLE 2 @ RCH 5
Amerks are still good and lead the North. Cleveland and Binghamton look to be the only challengers right now. Stop laughing.

+1

 This Week: vs. SYR 11/9
Record: 9-3-1-0

3

 Last Week: BRI 2 @ SPR 3, SPR 2 @ BRI 5
Last team in the AHL to suffer a regulation loss with Saturday’s setback to Bridgeport. Divisional play continues this week with the Pennsylvania teams.

-1

 This Week: @ LV 11/9, @ HER 11/10, vs. WBS 11/14
Record: 7-1-0-2

4

 Last Week: SA 1 @ SJ 3, STK 2 @ SJ 5
San Jose is a really good team that not a lot of people know about because they play so far out West. Two huge early road games this weekend in Tucson.

+1

 This Week: @ TUC 11/9, @ TUC 11/10
Record: 9-1-0-1

5

 Last Week: IA 3 @ GR 2 (SO), IA 2 @ RFD 1 (SO), RFD 4 @ IA 2, IA 3 @ RFD 0
That slow start that the Wild had seems like a year ago, doesn’t it? Wild are up to third in a suddenly tight Central.

+4

 This Week: vs. BAK 11/8, vs. BAK 11/10, vs. MIL 11/14
Record: 8-3-0-0

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Power Rankings

AHL Power Rankings: Week 4

Comments Off on AHL Power Rankings: Week 4 Posted by on November 1, 2018

Minimal shakeup in this week’s edition of the Chirps from Center Ice AHL Power Rankings. The top five stay the top five, with only San Jose dropping one and Milwaukee moving up.

Charlotte, Springfield and Rochester remain your top three this week after another week of wins. Milwaukee moves up one after holding the biggest lead as a division leader. San Jose rounds out the top five as a defensively stout hockey team.

Jump past the Barracuda to see where the rest of the teams filled out this week if you didn’t link in direct.

1

 Last Week: CHA 4 @ BNG 3 (OT), CHA 6 @ SYR 3
If we moved Charlotte from the top spot last week, which we didn’t, we would have put them back at number one again this week. The Checkers are smoking opponents and there doesn’t appear to be any end in sight.

n/a

 This Week: vs. PRO 11/2, vs. PRO 11/3
Record: 8-1-0-0

2

 Last Week: PRO 2 @ SPR 4, HFD 2 @ SPR 6
Thunderbirds have yet to lose in regulation, the last AHL team to do so. Scored four power play goals Sunday at home against Hartford. Home and home with Bridgeport coming up.

n/a

 This Week: vs. BRI 11/2, @ BRI 11/3
Record: 6-0-0-2

3

 Last Week: UTI 0 @ RCH 4, LAV 2 @ RCH 3
Run the streak to 7-0-1 in their last eight. Americans are jumping ahead of a tough North Division early.

n/a

 This Week: vs. HER 11/2, @ HER 11/3, vs. CLE 11/7
Record: 7-2-1-0

4

 Last Week: CLE 2 @ MIL 3 (OT), MTB 1 @ MIL 4, MTB 2 @ MIL 1 (OT)
Admirals keep collecting points and lead the Central by five points, most of any other division in the AHL.

+1

 This Week: vs. RFD 11/2, @ GR 11/3, vs. CHI 11/7
Record: 8-1-2-0

5

 Last Week: SJ 2 @ SA 1, SJ 6 @ TEX 1
Positive Texas road trip where the Barracuda held the opponent to just one goal on each night.

-1

 This Week: vs. SA 11/2, vs. STK 11/5
Record: 7-1-0-1

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Power Rankings

AHL Power Rankings: Week 3

Comments Off on AHL Power Rankings: Week 3 Posted by on October 25, 2018

You would like to think that your team three weeks into the season either remains hot or starts to turn a corner for the good. There are teams that have started bad and remain bad or teams that are turning the corner for the bad. Sense a theme? You want to make moves? Turn the corner. Some teams are this week, for the good and the bad.

Charlotte remains the top team for the third week in a row after some shuffling in the top five. No real reason, yet, to move the Checkers from the pinnacle.

Springfield bumps to second. There are no undefeated teams left in the AHL, but Springfield is one team who has yet to suffer a regulation loss.

Rochester started 0-2 but have not lost in regulation since. The Americans are third in this weeks Rankings.

San Jose drops to fourth after splitting a series with Stockton.

Your Central Division leading Milwaukee Admirals round out the top five.

Pop past Milwaukee if you didn’t link in direct to see where your favorite team ended up this week….

1

 Last Week: HER 3 @ CHA 4 (SO), HER 2 @ CHA 0, CHA 3 @ UTI 1
Even the best teams have bad days, like the Checkers had against the Bears Saturday, but that is not enough to knock Charlotte out of the top spot, yet.

n/a

 This Week: @ BNG 10/26, @ SYR 10/27
Record: 6-1-0-0

2

 Last Week: SPR 5 @ LAV 3, SPR 4 @ LAV 2
Thunderbirds go into Laval and sweep the Rocket. Points in all six contests so far for the Thunderbirds, who host Providence and Hartford this week.

+2

 This Week: vs. PRO 10/27, vs. HFD 10/28
Record: 4-0-0-2

3

 Last Week: TOR 4 @ RCH 5 (SO), RCH 4 @ BEL 5 (OT)
Underestimate this Rochester team at your peril. This Amerks team is built to compete and compete they have. After an 0-2 start to start the year, points in their last six.

+9

 This Week: vs. UTI 10/26, vs. LAV 10/27
Record: 5-2-1-0

4

 Last Week: SJ 5 @ STK 2, STK 3 @ SJ 2
Split a series with the Heat. Off to Texas this week. Still lead the Pacific.

-2

 This Week: @ SA 10/26, @ TEX 10/27
Record: 5-1-0-1

5

 Last Week: MIL 2 @ SD 4, MIL 5 @ CHI 4 (SO), SA 0 @ MIL 3
Milwaukee jumps into the top five after a positive week. Admirals lead the Central. Good trio of games coming up this week.

+2

 This Week: vs. CLE 10/26, vs. MTB 10/27, vs. MTB 10/30
Record: 6-1-1-0

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Power Rankings

Will O’Neill Suspended One Game

Comments Off on Will O’Neill Suspended One Game Posted by on October 23, 2018

Tuesday afternoon, the American Hockey League suspended Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins defenseman Will O’Neill for his actions Saturday night against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.

From the release…

O’Neill was assessed an instigator penalty within the final five minutes of the third period, resulting in an automatic one-game suspension under the provisions of AHL Rule 46.22. He will miss Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s game Friday (Oct. 26) vs. Hershey.

From the Rulebook…

Fines and Suspensions – Instigator in Final Five Minutes of Regulation Time (or Anytime in Overtime) – A player who is deemed to be the instigator of an altercation in the final five (5) minutes of regulation time or at any time in overtime (see 46.12), shall automatically be suspended for one game. The length of suspension will double for each subsequent offense. This suspension shall be served in addition to any other automatic suspensions a player may incur for an accumulation of three or more instigator penalties.

When the one-game suspension is imposed, the player’s Coach and Club shall each be fined five hundred dollars ($500) – a fine that will double for each subsequent incident.

This is 46.12…

Instigator in Final Five Minutes of Regulation Time (or Anytime in Overtime) – A player who is deemed to be the instigator of an altercation in the final five (5) minutes of regulation time or at any time in overtime shall be assessed an instigator minor penalty, a major penalty for fighting, and a game misconduct penalty, subject to the conditions outlined in 46.22.

Here is the video of what got O’Neill the instigator penalty and thus suspended…

As mentioned above, O’Neill will miss this Friday’s home game against the Hershey Bears.

O’Neill tried to make his case to Tom after the game last Saturday…

…but the League wasn’t having it.

Other news from Tuesday….

John Muse has been assigned to Wheeling. I thought they would at least try to make a competition out of the trio that was here (Tristan Jarry, Muse and Anthony Peters) but Jarry is the NHL pedigree that will see the lion share of starts, Peters is the AHL only guy who can’t go to Wheeling because Cincinnati owns his ECHL rights. Wheeling and Cincinnati are in the same division so it’s like Zach Aston-Reese playing for the Hershey Bears…Muse was the odd guy out. It’s a business.

Updates from practice…

If I come up with anything Wednesday, look for it here, otherwise Week 3 AHL Power Rankings will hit the blog Thursday.

The AHL, WBS, Wheeling

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