Chirps from Center Ice

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

Category Archives: The AHL

AHL Power Rankings: Week 26

Comments Off on AHL Power Rankings: Week 26 Posted by on April 2, 2018

As the calendar turns to April, there are a ton of races to watch as the finish line is in sight.

Six teams have qualified. A handful more should punch their ticket this week. There is a bunch of playoff seed jockeying still going on in all the divisions.

We use the Week 26 version of the Chirps from Center Ice AHL Power Rankings to break it all down.

Toronto jumps back into the top spot this week after breaking the AHL record for wins on the road, followed closely by Lehigh Valley who are going to wrap up the Atlantic Division fairly soon.

Tucson is back to third after punching their ticket to the postseason followed by your new Central Division leaders in Chicago, who overtook the stale Moose for first in the division this week.

The top five is rounded out with a white hot Rockford side who are surging.

Pop past the IceHogs to see where your favorite team ended up this week.

1

 Last Week: LAV 1 @ TOR 5, TOR 3 @ MTB 2, TOR 5 @ MTB 4
Marlies continue to roll. Set an AHL records for most road wins this past weekend. There is still another two weeks left in the season, by the way.

+1

 This Week: vs. UTI 4/5, @ UTI 4/6, @ RCH 4/7
Record: 50-18-1-1

2

 Last Week: PRO 0 @ LV 2, BEL 2 @ LV 4
Lehigh Valley are firing on all cylinders and should be close to wrapping up the division title this week. First round playoff preview this week with Charlotte most likely.

-1

 This Week: @ CHA 4/3, @ CHA 4/4, @ HFD 4/7, @ PRO 4/8
Record: 44-17-4-5

3

 Last Week: TUC 6 @ IA 4, TUC 4 @ IA 3
Roadrunners punch a ticket to the Calder Cup Playoffs, the first Western Conference team to do so. Tucson has flown under the radar for a bit here and are ready to shine in the postseason.

+1

 This Week: vs. GR 4/6, vs. GR 4/7
Record: 38-19-5-1

4

 Last Week: IA 1 @ CHI 3, TEX 2 @ CHI 1 (SO)
Took over first in the Central after Manitoba’s free fall. Tough opponents coming up this week for the new Central leaders.

+2

 This Week: vs. MIL 4/3, @ IA 4/6, vs. MIL 4/7
Record: 38-21-7-3

5

 Last Week: RFD 4 @ MTB 2, RFD 4 @ MTB 3, SJ 3 @ RFD 5
IceHogs are 8-1-1-0 in their last ten and on a roll which is what you need when you storm into playoffs. You want a dark horse team? Look no further.

+2

 This Week: @ SA 4/4, @ TEX 4/6, @ TEX 4/7
Record: 37-25-4-4

Click through here to see teams 6 through 30

Power Rankings

AHL Power Rankings: Week 25

Comments Off on AHL Power Rankings: Week 25 Posted by on March 26, 2018

Things are decided in the North Division. The four teams (Toronto, Syracuse, Rochester and Utica) are set to tangle in less than a month in the Calder Cup Playoffs.

The rest of the divisions remain in flux.

Just a quick shuffle in the top five this week with Syracuse and Tucson swapping spots. After fifth place Providence, pop past the jump if you didn’t link in direct to see where your favorite team ended up. Let’s dive right in…

1

 Last Week: LV 4 @ PRO 5 (OT), LV 1 @ PRO 6
Wrapped up a spot in the playoffs this weekend, will probably sew up the division as well. Forget about that 6-1 thumping that Providence put on Lehigh Valley and move on.

n/a

 This Week: vs. PRO 3/30, vs. BEL 3/31
Record: 42-17-4-5

2

 Last Week: WBS 3 @ TOR 4 (OT), TOR 4 @ BEL 2, BEL 4 @ TOR 2, SPR 2 @ TOR 0
Possible Calder Cup Final preview this week in Winnipeg or nah?

n/a

 This Week: vs. LAV 3/28, @ MTB 3/30, @ MTB 3/31
Record: 47-18-1-1

3

 Last Week: BRI 1 @ SYR 4, UTI 0 @ SYR 2
Crunch are jockeying for home ice. Given the schedule this week, will probably cement that status.

+1

 This Week: vs. BNG 3/28, vs. BEL 3/30, vs. CHA 3/31
Record: 41-19-3-4

4

 Last Week: SJ 0 @ TUC 4, SJ 4 @ TUC 3 (OT), TUC 2 @ BAK 1, TUC 2 @ SJ 3
5 of 8 points this week for Tucson who continue to sit atop the Pacific. Two this week with a stone cold Iowa side.

-1

 This Week: @ IA 3/30, @ IA 3/31
Record: 36-19-5-1

5

 Last Week: LV 4 @ PRO 5 (OT), LV 1 @ PRO 6
Bruins getting previews of possible playoff opponents. Home ice with Wilkes-Barre not decided yet, will probably come down to final weekend. Two this week with their likely first round opponent.

n/a

 This Week: @ WBS 3/28, @ LV 3/30, @ WBS 3/31
Record: 40-21-3-2

Click through here to see teams 6 through 30

Power Rankings

AHL Power Rankings: Week 24

Comments Off on AHL Power Rankings: Week 24 Posted by on March 19, 2018

It’s Monday, and the Week 24 AHL Power Rankings are here to hopefully paint the picture for you as we head towards the end of the regular season.

The Lehigh Valley Phantoms have the Atlantic Division on lockdown. They will most likely be the next AHL team to lock up a postseason berth.

The Toronto Marlies slipped to the Utica Comets Sunday and yield the top spot to Lehigh Valley. Discount the Marlies at your peril however, they will be a tough out.

Another week and Tucson remains in third after a good week and should be one of the first Western Conference teams to lock up a playoff spot.

Syracuse was the next team to punch a postseason ticket, and are fourth and within distance to maybe take over the top spot in the North.

Providence rounds out the top five this week after taking 4 of 6 points out of the week in preparation for their inevitable first round meeting with the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins.

To check out six and beyond, hop through the jump if you didn’t link in direct.

1

 Last Week: LV 3 @ HFD 4 (SO), PRO 0 @ LV 3, SPR 0 @ LV 3
Back to back shutouts of opponents. Lehigh Valley is firing on all cylinders right now and should be the next Eastern Conference team to punch a postseason ticket. But, are the Phantoms peaking too soon?

+1

 This Week: @ PRO 3/23, @ PRO 3/24
Record: 42-16-3-5

2

 Last Week: LAV 1 @ TOR 4, LAV 0 @ TOR 4, TOR 3 @ BEL 1, UTI 3 @ TOR 1
Marlies slip up Sunday against Utica. Busy week this week starting with the Penguins on Tuesday.

-1

 This Week: vs. WBS 3/20, @ BEL 3/23, vs. BEL 3/24, vs. SPR 3/25
Record: 44-17-1-1

3

 Last Week: TUC 3 @ BAK 3 (OT), TUC 3 @ STK 0, TUC 2 @ STK 1
Roadrunners keep setting the bar in the Pacific. Busy week coming up for the Roadrunners could cement them as a playoff team this week and likely number one seed in their division.

n/a

 This Week: vs. SJ 3/20, vs. SJ 3/21, @ BAK 3/24, @ SJ 3/25
Record: 34-18-4-1

4

 Last Week: SYR 6 @ BNG 2, SYR 3 @ SPR 2 (OT), LAV 2 @ SYR 5
Crunch seal up a playoff spot, likely heading into a playoff series with Rochester in the first round.

+5

 This Week: vs. BRI 3/23, vs. UTI 3/24
Record: 39-19-3-4

5

 Last Week: RCH 3 @ PRO 5, PRO 0 @ LV 3, BRI 1 @ PRO 4
4 of 6 points this week to keep pace with their eventual first round opponent the Penguins.

+1

 This Week: vs. LV 3/23, vs. LV 3/24
Record: 38-21-3-2

Click through here to see teams 6 through 30

Power Rankings

Off Day Notes & Scores 3/16

Comments Off on Off Day Notes & Scores 3/16 Posted by on March 16, 2018

With no Penguins game to write about tonight, I wanted to use this post to drop in and fill in the news of the day and get to some final scores. First the news of the day.

Wilkes-Barre was scheduled to practice today, but it turned into an optional practice. Players who participated in the games in Charlotte used the day off Friday to recover.

Meaning no hitting, but why would you this late on into a season.

Tyler had words from Clark Donatelli on Ethan Prow’s status…

Josiah Didier, the Charlotte player who hit Prow, was suspended one game. Charlotte hosts Binghamton Saturday and Sunday.

In my opinion Ethan Prow is the last player that the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins could afford to lose. He is a vital piece to the team.

Tyler noted the rest of the walking wounded today…

My thought on Michael Leighton is that the Penguins are saving him for the playoff run, depending on what happens with Matt Murray in Pittsburgh. Assume Casey DeSmith comes down. Penguins would feel less confident riding Anthony Peters as their Round 1 starter I feel, with Peters’ lack of playoff experience and all. Leighton has been there. Of course if DeSmith is available, he would get the nod I feel over both Leighton and definitely Peters.

Around the Atlantic…

Thursday night, Bridgeport fell behind 4-0 to Rochester and won 6-4. Recall they did the same thing to Springfield this past Sunday.

The Sound Tigers were in Hershey tonight and lost 3-2. Penguins magic number should drop to 19.

Third place Providence hosted Rochester and won 5-3. Bruins will inch closer to the Pens for second in the division, but Wilkes-Barre will have two games in hand.

Tomorrow’s opponent Hartford hosted division leader Lehigh Valley and beat the Phantoms in shootout 4-3. Lehigh Valley goes 10 up on the Penguins who have four games in hand.

Here’s where they stand heading into Saturday…

Lehigh Valley (.68 percentage points) — Penguins (.650) — Providence (.637) — Charlotte (.586) — Bridgeport (.556) — Springfield (.492) — Hartford (.484) — Hershey (.477)

Gameday setup for tomorrow’s matchup against Hartford will hit the blog Saturday at 3.

The AHL, WBS

AHL Power Rankings: Week 23

Comments Off on AHL Power Rankings: Week 23 Posted by on March 12, 2018

Usually the first team to punch a playoff ticket in the American Hockey League’s regular season has had a pretty decent run up to the honor and has been a staple in the tip five of the Chirps from Center Ice AHL Power Rankings.

This year is no different, as the Toronto Marlies are the first team to clinch a playoff spot in the 2018 Calder Cup Playoffs and are the number one team in the Week 23 version of this weeks Power Rankings.

They are followed closely by the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, who should be the next team to clinch.

The Tucson Roadrunners remain a staple at third in this weeks Rankings and should join the Phantoms and Marlies within the next few weeks.

Chicago has closed in on Manitoba within five points for the Central Division lead and are now within striking distance to a Moose team that was miles ahead of the competition a few months ago.

Wilkes-Barre / Scranton sweep the weekend to push into the top five.

Past the Penguins, pop past the jump to see the rest of the order if you didn’t link in here direct.

1

 Last Week: PRO 3 @ TOR 4
First team to punch a ticket to the postseason. Back to the top of the AHL Power Rankings.

+1

 This Week: vs. LAV 3/12, vs. LAV 3/14, @ BEL 3/16, vs. UTI 3/18
Record: 41-16-1-1

2

 Last Week: BRI 3 @ LV 2, LV 4 @ BRI 1, BNG 3 @ LV 5
First Atlantic Division team to 40 wins. Separating themselves as the front runner to win the Atlantic.

-1

 This Week: @ HFD 3/16, vs. PRO 3/17, vs. SPR 3/18
Record: 40-16-3-4

3

 Last Week: TEX 1 @ TUC 2 (OT), TEX 4 @ TUC 3
No real threat from behind now for Tucson who have some breathing room for tops in the Pacific.

n/a

 This Week: @ BAK 3/14, @ STK 3/16, @ STK 3/17
Record: 31-18-4-1

4

 Last Week: CHI 5 @ SA 2, CHI 4 @ MIL 3, MTB 2 @ CHI 1, RFD 2 @ CHI 1 (OT)
Wolves slowly closing on Manitoba. Games in hand will not be an issue in this battle.

n/a

 This Week: vs. RFD 3/17, vs. IA 3/18
Record: 33-19-7-2

5

 Last Week: WBS 3 @ BNG 2 (OT), GR 1 @ WBS 2
Gritted out two nice wins this weekend. Still pursuing Lehigh Valley for tops in the Atlantic.

+1

 This Week: @ CHA 3/13, @ CHA 3/14, vs. HFD 3/17, vs. HER 3/18
Record: 35-17-4-2

Click through here to see teams 6 through 30

Power Rankings

AHL Power Rankings: Week 22

2 Comments Posted by on March 5, 2018

Welcome to Week 22 where things are still in flux around the American Hockey League.

Pretty much the top teams in all the divisions are safe bets for a playoff spot. Beyond all that, anything can happen it seems.

Lehigh Valley are separating themselves from the best of the rest of the Atlantic.

Toronto jumps back to the second spot and are number two this week as the first team to 40 wins in the AHL.

Tucson stays in third. With all the moving teams in these Rankings, seems like Tucson has been number three forever.

Chicago bumps up one as a serious contender for Manitoba’s top spot in the Central, something that seemed out of reach is now a possibility for the Wolves or anyone else who wants that spot.

Syracuse is keeping Toronto honest in the North, are fifth this week in the Rankings.

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

1

 Last Week: HER 6 @ LV 7, BNG 0 @ LV 4, LV 3 @ HER 2 (SO)
Lehigh Valley is hot. 17 wins in their last 22 games and starting to run away with the Atlantic Division lead.

n/a

 This Week: vs. BRI 3/9, @ BRI 3/10, vs. BNG 3/11
Record: 38-15-3-4

2

 Last Week: SYR 4 @ TOR 3 (OT), RCH 4 @ TOR 1, TOR 4 @ BEL 1
After some recent slip ups, the Marlies are the first team to 40 wins this season. Every good team has some bumps. One game this week for the Marlies.

+5

 This Week: vs. PRO 3/10
Record: 40-16-1-1

3

 Last Week: TUC 2 @ GR 3, TUC 5 @ CLE 1, TUC 2 @ CLE 3 (OT)
3 of 6 points this week for the Pacific Division leaders. Two at home this week against Texas.

n/a

 This Week: vs. TEX 3/9, vs. TEX 3/10
Record: 30-17-4-1

4

 Last Week: TEX 3 @ CHI 4 (SO), CHI 3 @ SA 0, CHI 4 @ TEX 1
Wolves slowly tightening the noose on the Moose for the top spot in the Central, something that was inconceivable a few months ago.

+1

 This Week: @ SA 3/6, @ MIL 3/9, vs. MTB 3/10, vs. RFD 3/11
Record: 31-18-6-2

5

 Last Week: SYR 4 @ TOR 3 (OT), BNG 2 @ SYR 3, LAV 5 @ SYR 4 (OT)
Keep pace with Toronto. Two this week with third place Rochester.

+1

 This Week: vs. HER 3/9, vs. RCH 3/10, @ RCH 3/11
Record: 35-18-3-3

Click through here to see teams 6 through 30

Power Rankings

Greg McKegg Traded at the NHL Deadline 2/26

Comments Off on Greg McKegg Traded at the NHL Deadline 2/26 Posted by on February 26, 2018

Probably not the biggest ripple effecting the parent team, but Penguins Jim Rutherford made a move on the NHL trade deadline that had a direct result on his AHL team in Wilkes-Barre.

The Penguins acquired Josh Jooris for Greg McKegg in essentially a swap of AHL eligible players on NHL contracts. Jooris will report to Wilkes-Barre and McKegg goes to Charlotte to be with the Checkers.

Nick Hart with the scouting report…

Jooris was with the Carolina Hurricanes and has played in 37 games for them. He has over 200 games of NHL experience. I’ll consider this an upgrade for Wilkes-Barre. McKegg started in the NHL and was waived down, then sort of just got lost in the shuffle. Jooris steps down from the NHL and hopefully brings the right attitude for the Penguins and contributes.

As of 4 pm Monday. it doesn’t look like there were any more trades made effecting the organization. I didn’t see anything on the AHL Transactions page about players being assigned to Wilkes-Barre for the purposes of being eligible to play in the AHL after today.

UPDATE: As I was getting ready to close up shop for the night, Pittsburgh assigned Tristan Jarry and Dominik Simon to Wilkes-Barre and recalled Casey DeSmith. Zach Aston-Reese was not part of the news. Aston-Reese is the only other player on the NHL Penguins roster to be eligible for assignment to the AHL. Unless he shows up on a paper move, he’s up for good. EDIT: Aston-Reese was papered down per the AHL Transactions page. Dominik Simon is a huge add for Wilkes-Barre and DeSmith is indeed eligible for re-assignment since he was on the AHL roster at the 3 p.m. deadline.

Other news of the day…

Word out of practice was that Murray took a shot off of the head from an Olli Maatta stick.

If any other moves are made, I will either update this post or add another. This is a long way of saying keep checking back.

Pittsburgh, The AHL, WBS

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