Chirps from Center Ice

Class of the field in the East is Utica. Class in the West is Stockton. It hasn’t been close all season. The Heat have a pair with the Reign this week and that may change, but for now, your top two teams this week are Utica and Stockton.

Here’s the whole list:

Rank	Team	Blurb	Last Week
1		Still the team to beat in the division and conference. Ho hum.	+1
2		Good team on a hell of a run. Showdown at home this weekend with Ontario.	+1
3		12 round shootout win Sunday over Texas in their only action in the week due to weather. Moose travel down to Texas his week looking to move closer to the Wolves in the standings.	+1
4		Reign head back west where the Stockton Heat await. Division lead implications at stake.	+2
5		Got their reinforcements back from them taxi squad and sit atop the Atlantic. 7-2-1-0 in their last ten and on a roll. Springfield and Rochester drop by this week.	+2
6		Hottest team in the Pacific is actually Bakersfield, who methodically took down the white hot Colorado Eagles.	+2
7		Have been blandly average but built up enough of credit to not let it affect their positioning in the standings.	-2
8		Great resurrection for Milwaukee. 8-1-0-1 has them as one of the hottest teams in the AHL.	+3
9		Beat a struggling Cleveland team. Everyone does that these days. Lehigh Valley sandwiched in between a stop in by Belleville.	+6
10		Season long winning streak ends in Bakersfield and the Eagles bring home a losing streak!	-9
11		One of the hottest teams in the division, hold the final spot which qualifies for a playoff spot. If they keep up this run of play, they won’t have to worry about that.	+1
12		Neat run that the Marlies are on, but we will see how good this team really is this Wednesday when they host the Comets.	+5
13		Stopped the skid in a tight affair in Wilkes-Barre, claiming OT victory.	+3
14		Extremely busy month continues with three straight against Syracuse.	-5
15		Beat up the last place San Jose Barracuda to adjust things a bit. Trip out to Bakersfield this week.	+4
16		Split with Rockford with identical 4-2 results. Host struggling Grand Rapids this week.	-3
17		Have hit a bit of a slide here. Home and home with Chicago doesn’t make things any easier.	-7
18		Saw a two goal lead turn into a two goal deficit Saturday in Hartford. This team will continue to struggle.	-4
19		Senators have been good recently but they head to the vipers pit known as the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania this week.	+8
20		Return home for six straight. Winnable games too. Bridgeport up this weekend.	-2
21		Amerks have hit a cold patch and host one of the hottest teams in the Atlantic this Wednesday when Wilkes-Barre stops by.	-1
22		Struggled this week, but still maintain the top three spot. Utica, Hartford and Providence this week is probably the toughest schedule in the AHL this week.	n/a
23		We think that the Islanders are the best last place team in their division, if that makes any sense.	-2
24		Nice bit if a turnaround after a struggle these past few weeks. Three straight in Laval, QC when these two teams are neck and neck in the North Division standings.	+4
25		Split with Ontario, head out to Des Moines for a pair with the Wild.	+4
26		Took them all weekend to get to Winnipeg to lose a 12 round shootout. Host the Moose this week, then the Admirals this weekend.	-1
27		Road trip continues to Abbotsford this week after a split in San Diego.	-1
28		Chance to get some points out of San Jose this weekend in their only game this week (Friday)	+3
29		Barracuda only play in seven contests this month. One of them with San Diego this Friday.	+1
30		Good chance that the 0-3 skid ends with struggling Tucson this weekend.	-7
31		Pair of 4-1 setbacks against Hershey this week. Schedule doesn’t get any easier, Chicago and Utica on the menu this week.	-7

So they have flown under the radar for long enough and likely just keeping the seat warm for the team they dethroned from the top spot, but the Colorado Eagles are the new number one team in this weeks Power Rankings. This is a team that hasn’t lost in regulation since before Christmas, have a home ice advantage unlike anything in the AHL (need more cowbell!) and, oh by the way, have a boat load of games at the Budweiser Events Center coming up in the month of February.

Utica didn’t go far, Stockton stays the same and I finally put Manitoba over Chicago this week. We will see how long this holds.

Here is the whole list, in all it’s glory.

Rank	Team	Blurb	Last Week
1		What Stockton and Ontario do ahead of them may not matter for the Eagles if they keep this run going. Haven’t lost in regulation since before Christmas. A lot of games in February are at home, and that’s a tough place for opponents to play.	+5
2		Never fear Utica fans, share your top spot with others for one week. The Comets are turning the North into a runaway.	-1
3		One game this past weekend and a huge win over the Reign. Trip up to the listless Canucks this weekend.	n/a
4		Managed a split with Abbottsford at home and keeping the Central race with Chicago modest. Stars stop in this week and a good chance the momentum keeps rolling.	-2
5		Points in three straight, despite a 1-0 shootout loss setback to Rockford on Saturday.	+2
6		I mean the wins against San Jose are fine, but you have to win games that matter and that game Saturday against the Heat mattered. Now the gap to first widens, slightly.	-2
7		A fourth horse has entered the Atlantic Division race. Didn’t like that shutout that the Phantoms came in and laid on Saturday, though.	+3
8		Condors are 8-1-1 in their last ten and have a showdown with the Eagles this weekend at home.	+3
9		Split in Texas and could have used all four points, but are 7-3 in their last ten. Showdown in Utica this weekend.	+3
10		IceHogs charging up the standings, points in four straight. Showdown with equally hot Milwaukee Wednesday.	+8
11		There isn’t another team hotter in the Central. The Admirals have turned things around and in a big way. Pasted Grand Rapids, OT win at home against the IceHogs Friday. Showdown this weekend in Chicago.	+9
12		7-3 in their last ten, may be turning a corner and ready to get out of the Atlantic basement. That answer is coming this week, we think.	+4
13		Wild sweep a hapless Gulls team and beat Rockford in overtime. I think there is something there, but this is the same team that the Eagles humbled last weekend.	+15
14		Phantoms back to .500 with a big win home Sunday against the Bears. Is this the best team in Pennsylvania?	+1
15		Paste the Penguins Tuesday, which is par for the course, then edge the Islanders in OT at home Saturday and lose in Allentown on Sunday. This team is Superman when playing the Penguins and Clark Kent against everyone else.	-7
16		Bruins are injured and have guys up on taxi squad duty. Tough to win a lot of games in this current condition.	-11
17		Marlies with a good turnaround from last week, going to Grand Rapids last Monday and gritting out a win then thumping a rested Belleville side. Toronto may be the only team that could give Utica a run.	+2
18		OT win over Utica and then a blowout win in Syracuse. Yeah, it was a good week for the Charlotte Checkers.	-5
19		Silver Knights couldn’t ride the wave of success out of their comeback in Stockton the week prior and Colorado beat them twice at home. Right back on the horse (pun intended) against San Jose!	-10
20		Utica is turning the North into a runaway and Rochester isn’t doing much here to keep pace.	-3
21		Respectable 5-2-2-1 in their last ten, but last place in the Atlantic. There could be winnable games this week.	+4
22		Happens every year at this time. Springfield starts plummeting. 3-5-2 in their last ten and a tough schedule ahead.	n/a
23		Managed a split in Winnipeg which is something to build on when the Heat stop by this weekend.	-2
24		Yikes. 5 straight losses and 2-8 in their last ten. Hello North Division basement!	-10
25		Split the weekend with the Rocket, but they are so far behind on percentage and there are teams mid pack making a surge that a split isn’t enough at this point in the season.	+1
26		Roadrunners out of the basement, thanks to the listless play of the Gulls and Barracuda. Next two are in San Diego.	+5
27		Not a large sample size to go off of here due to lack of games. Schedule gets busy this week against Syracuse and Laval.	-4
28		Woof. Couple weeks ago had Syracuse as a team to watch. One win against a putrid Cleveland team to show for it this week.	-1
29		Double woof. 0-5 (technically 0-4-1) here. Toronto and Ontario come calling this week. Good luck.	-5
30		Are probably sick of playing Ontario by now. Good news is that they don’t see the Reign at all in February.	-1
31		Went to Iowa and got throttled. Colorado (uh-oh) drops by this Wednesday.	-1

OK, so a quick note on these, they are based off of games through this past Sunday. I like having AHL puck to watch on a daily basis on AHL TV, but in situations (like these) you have to cutoff where you are going with these and put together a rankings. That’s where we are here and why they are out on a Monday as opposed to a Tuesday.

Utica reclaims the top spot in the Rankings this week hotly pursued by the Manitoba Moose, who are second. Stockton and Ontario are joined at the hip and the Providence Bruins round out the top five.

Here’s the whole list in all it’s glory. The Last Week column is back. Belleville didn’t play, so they remain in 23rd.

Rank	Team	Blurb	Last Week
1		Tidy weekend sweep of the Syracuse Crunch show other teams in the division that if you come at the North Division Kings, you better not miss.	+1
2		Did what they had to and swept the Wolves at home. Now host the Canucks this weekend. Could it be a trap series for the Moose?	+3
3		I didn’t particularly like the way that the Heat coughed up a 3-1 lead and lost 4-3 in overtime to the Silver Knights Saturday night. Long week to stew on that before the Reign come calling.	n/a
4		Reign stay hot, outgunning the Roadrunners at home for a pair over the weekend and stay in step with the Heat in pursuit of the Pacific Division crown. Ontario has three games in hand on Stockton, too. Three of the next four are with last place San Jose.	n/a
5		Split a weekend pair with Bridgeport or took two out of three? Are still at the top of the division and will likely yo-yo with Hershey for a bit here.	+1
6		Swept Iowa at home this week. Eagles not getting enough credit with how good they really are.	+9
7		Wolves lead in the Central is now in serious danger after getting swept by second place Manitoba.	-6
8		Split with Hartford. Winnable games this week it would seem.	+2
9		Tenacious way to claw back for a win Saturday in Stockton. Clash of the Pacific Division titans this weekend when the Silver Knights host the white hot Colorado Eagles this weekend.	+2
10		Got some help back from the Rangers Sunday and were a lot more competitive against the Bears, who they managed a split with.	+2
11		Three straight with Tucson this week in Arizona, so this is a golden opportunity to make up some ground on the top four.	+3
12		Only played one game this week and won Wednesday in Utica. There’s talk of a lot of the North Division teams struggling, not Laval. 8-2 in the last ten.	+4
13		Split with Springfield and Lehigh Valley this week. It’s not bad, but also not that very good. Utica and Syracuse on the road this week.	n/a
14		Lost in Grand Rapids then split a pair at home against the Americans.	+5
15		4 of 6 points isn’t bad, gives the Phantoms some breathing room on 7th in the division.	+7
16		Swept the Marlies at home in blowout and comeback fashion. Anomaly or are they pulling themselves out of the Atlantic basement for good?	+9
17		Split a pair in Cleveland. Everyone has been really average here of late in the division, Americans are one of them.	-8
18		IceHogs let Texas take 3 of 4 points from them this weekend. Iowa – Milwaukee – Chicago this week.	+2
19		Obliterated in Wilkes-Barre and in Hartford this week. It comes at a good time, as a lot of the teams in the North are struggling.	-12
20		Hottest team in the Central is actually Milwaukee, who haven’t lost in regulation in their last five games.	+9
21		Swept San Diego at home, now head east to Winnipeg to take on a white hot Moose side in what should be a decent enough test.	+5
22		Bleeding points away. Thunderbirds used to be all alone at the top of the division but now they have a lot of company.	-14
23		The Senators did not play this week. They host Toronto for a pair this weekend.	n/a
24		Light week for the Griffins who beat Cleveland (okay) and lost to Milwaukee (bad) – can’t do that if you want to contend with the Moose and Wolves of the world.	-6
25		Managed a split with Providence and then an OT win at home against the Thunderbirds.	+5
26		Took 3 of 4 away from Rockford this weekend. Trip up to Chicago this week. then Laval comes in for a weekend pair. Haven’t lost in regulation in four games, so like Milwaukee, the division may be a bit upside down.	+5
27		Well, that wasn’t good, swept in a home and home against the Comets. Cleveland drops by Wednesday.	-10
28		Swept in Colorado in a pair of close contests. Seems like it is a step forward and a step backwards with this club.	-7
29		Nice to pick up a win Sunday against Bakersfield. There’s time to push, but three against Ontario makes for an uphill climb!	-5
30		Swept in Abbotsford. Host a very good Colorado side Wednesday then travel to ornery Iowa this weekend.	-2
31		0-5 against an array of opponents (good and bad) – this team may be cooked already.	-4

Well, until the next COVID wave derails this little enterprise.

Wait, did I say that out loud? I guess I did. Anyway, I last did this in the middle of December, after returning it from a week or so hiatus before that, so it is consistently inconsistent.

With that said (I meant to this time) I have decided to wipe the slate clean and just start over. So that’s why the “Last Week” part of the Power Rankings you have all come to know and love is absent this week. Provided COVID doesn’t rip through and kill off half the games this week, we will be back next week, and so forth.

Hopefully.

Anyway, here’s the whole list in all of its goodness.

Rank	Team	Blurb
1		Have been class of the Central by far, but there is too much competition to think the Wolves will have a runaway at the division crown.
2		Have been class of the Eastern Conference by far, and I don’t think there is any competition where it won’t be a runaway for the Comets at the #1 seed in the North.
3		Have been class of the Pacific but…
4		…the Reign have games in hand (3) and five more head to heads with the Heat. Will be an interesting race to watch down the stretch.
5		Moose are like a bad headache. Always there. Keeping the Wolves honest and have points in seven straight.
6		Went to the top of the Atlantic on Sunday and will probably stay there. Deep, well coached team.
7		Bruising club that gets two in a struggling Wilkes-Barre this weekend.
8		Have played .500 hockey in the last ten games. One of a long line of teams just coming back online after a COVID outage.
9		Hanging around the top of the North, waiting for Utica to slip and keeping third place Toronto at bay.
10		You can only play the teams on your schedule and Hershey has absolutely mauled the Penguins of late. Very average against everyone else.
11		Stockton and Ontario have had all the fun, but here’s Henderson laying in the weeds.
12		Keith Kinkaid’s renaissance in goal is something to behold. The Wolf Pack have the second best goals against in the division.
13		I had this team pegged as a midpack team at the start of the season and that’s exactly who they are.
14		Points in nine straight. Those COVID antibodies are something, I’ll tell ya.
15		Feasting on bad teams in Tucson and Milwaukee so far in 2022. Schedule tightens bit with Eric Staal and the Iowa Wild this weekend.
16		7-2-0-1 in their last ten which isn’t bad for a team who COVID hit the hardest.
17		The Crunch are coming for your souls. Just wait.
18		Grand Rapids looks like it wants to contend with the Moose and Wolves, but when given the chance (like these last three games against the aforementioned Moose and Wolves), the Griffins stumble.
19		Monsters have played good Central Division teams and well, the results have been typical.
20		Rockford. Probably a playoff team. They are your schools most consistent C student.
21		Pair of huge wins over the Central’s best Chicago should have Iowa higher here but it doesn’t. Gotta continue to build off of that.
22		Come out of COVID protocol on the wrong end of decisions against the Penguins and Marlies.
23		Belleville is still a very good team despite its dead last showing in the North.
24		Last place in the Pacific but playing better hockey of late than the three other teams in the division yet to be named here.
25		Finally off the schnide with big wins against in state rivals Hershey and Lehigh Valley.
26		Ontario Monday sandwiched the four other games against San Diego the Canucks are playing in this stretch.
27		I mean there is no shame in losing to Stockton, but getting shutout against San Jose is bad.
28		I don’t think any of the residents of San Diego have to worry about shoveling snow this week, so there’s that.
29		Admirals and Stars are playing class clowns of the Central.
30		Schedule is relentless for the Islanders the rest of the month; two against Providence then Springfield and Hershey. Yikes.
31		Stars are the last team in the AHL to hit ten wins. They still are on just nine.Maybe Wednesday against Milwaukee?