Chirps from Center Ice

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

Category Archives: The AHL

AHL Power Rankings: Week 7

Comments Off on AHL Power Rankings: Week 7 Posted by on November 20, 2017

Thanksgiving Week feels like a short week, doesn’t it?

Also, feels like we just started the season, doesn’t it? How did we get here, this fast?

Week 7 has come and gone in the American Hockey League and there is a new number on team. It’s the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins.

The Penguins have points in eleven straight games. They are followed by a Toronto Marlies team who have the most points in the AHL right now.

A pair of surprising Western Conference teams are third and fourth in Manitoba and Stockton and the top five is rounded out with San Antonio, who we feel have been here in the top five ever since Week 1.

Hop through the jump to see the rest of the teams after the Rampage if you didn’t link in direct and enjoy Thanksgiving week in the USA!

1

 Last Week: WBS 4 @ BNG 3
Points in 11 straight games. Mind you, Wilkes-Barre has only played 14 games so far. Busy Thanksgiving week coming with with some pre-turkey day action with Lehigh Valley followed by a home and home with Syracuse.

+1

 This Week: vs. LV 11/22, @ SYR 11/24, vs. SYR 11/25
Record: 11-2-0-1

2

 Last Week: SYR 1 @ TOR 2, SYR 1 @ TOR 3
Racking up points in the North, and but for a Rochester and Laval team keeping them honest, would be running away with the division.

+2

 This Week: @ UTI 11/22, vs. BEL 11/25, vs. BEL 11/26
Record: 13-4-0-0

3

 Last Week: CHI 2 @ MTB 3, CHI 4 @ MTB 6, LAV 2 @ MTB 5
Seven wins in their past eight games for a Moose side who is no longer a surprise, but a team you need to start taking seriously.

+4

 This Week: vs. LAV 11/21, @ GR 11/24, @ MIL 11/25
Record: 11-5-1-1

4

 Last Week: BAK 2 @ STK 4, BAK 2 @ STK 5
Swept the Condors this week, but now some real competition steps up with the Reign and the Roadrunners this week.

+6

 This Week: @ ONT 11/22, @ TUC 11/24, @ TUC 11/25
Record: 10-4-0-1

5

 Last Week: GR 6 @ SA 3, SA 3 @ TEX 4, TEX 2 @ SA 5
Thought that the Rampage were in trouble after Grand Rapids smacked them mid-week, then they split a series with the Stars. San Antonio may just be OK.

-2

 This Week: @ BAK 11/21, @ SJ 11/22, @ BAK 11/25, @ ONT 11/26
Record: 10-5-1-0

Click through here to see teams 6 through 30

Power Rankings

Andrey Pedan Suspended Three Games 11/13

Comments Off on Andrey Pedan Suspended Three Games 11/13 Posted by on November 13, 2017

Word came down Monday afternoon from Springfield that Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins defenseman Andrey Pedan has been suspended three games for an incident stemming from a charging incident on Saturday, November 11 against the Providence Bruins.

Here’s the video I ripped from video highlights Coal Street put forth Saturday night…

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Suspension verbiage from the league release went as follows…

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins defenseman Andrey Pedan has been suspended for three (3) games as a consequence of a charging incident in a game vs. Providence on Nov. 11.

Pedan was suspended under the provisions of AHL Rule 28.1 (supplementary discipline). He will miss Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s games Friday (Nov. 17) at Binghamton, Nov. 22 vs. Lehigh Valley and Nov. 24 at Syracuse.

Rule 28.1 in the AHL Rulebook reads as follows…

28.1 Supplementary Discipline – In addition to the automatic fines and suspensions imposed under these rules, the President may, at his discretion, investigate any incident that occurs in connection with any Pre-season, Exhibition, League or Playoff game and may assess additional fines and/or suspensions for any offense committed during the course of a game or any aftermath thereof by a player, goalkeeper, Trainer, Manager, Coach or non-playing Club personnel or Club executive, whether or not such offense has been penalized by the Referee.

If an investigation is requested by a Club, it must be initiated within twenty-four (24) hours following the completion of the game in which the incident occurred. In addition, teams are required to fill out a request for supplemental discipline form along with a two hundred fifty dollar ($250) deposit refundable if further action is taken by the League.

There was no penalty called for charging at the time and no penalty assessed on the play at all other than the fight between Pedan and Kenny Agostino. Essentially, Providence asked that the League review the hit because Zboril did not return to the game nor did he play Sunday in Springfield when the Bruins visited the Thunderbirds.

Pedan will miss this Friday in Binghamton, next Wednesday at home against Lehigh Valley and Friday, November 24 at Syracuse.

Pedan’s game, I felt, was rounding into form. I don’t know if the suspension will hinder that or what.

Out the door, some other news…

https://twitter.com/FriedgeHNIC/status/930118757468573696

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Pittsburgh has the right of first refusal in the case of a re-claim…

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We will see what Pittsburgh decides to do Tuesday at noon. Niemi could, now hypothetically, be assigned to Wilkes-Bare and tandem with Casey DeSmith and Wilkes-Barre could send Colin Stevens back to Wheeling. Stay tuned I guess.

The AHL, WBS

AHL Power Rankings: Week 6

1 Comment Posted by on November 13, 2017

Say hello to Week 6 in the AHL and the Chirps from Center Ice Power Rankings are due.

This week was a challenge putting together. There was a shuffle to the top five teams, where they all remain in the top five, but then after that, there was a lot of teams at the bottom pulled from the top heading to the top fifteen, and a lot of teams in the top fifteen heading to the bottom of the Rankings.

You can flesh it out after you hit the jump after the Charlotte Checkers, who remain in fifth this week after another strong week. The Toronto Marlies fall from first to fourth after a tough loss to the Penguins but a nice bounce back in a pair of games against the Devils in Binghamton. The San Antonio Rampage slip to third after a torrid week themselves, but then the Penguins, who are the hottest team in the Eastern Conference, are bested by one loss Tucson who are just lighting the League on fire.

Here’s the full list, click past the Checkers to see 6 through 30 if you didn’t click in direct.

1

 Last Week: BAK 3 @ TUC 6, BAK 1 @ TUC 4
Roadrunners are playing with a swagger and it’s fun to see. Only lost one regulation game so far and are overall #1 team in AHL and tops where it matters most, the Chirps from Center Ice AHL Power Rankings for Week 6.

+3

 This Week: @ SD 11/17, @ SD 11/18
Record: 8-1-2-0

2

 Last Week: TOR 2 @ WBS 4, PRO 3 @ WBS 4 (OT), WBS 5 @ HER 1
Went toe to toe with the Marlies Wednesday, clawed back against the Bruins on Saturday then dismantled and embarrassed the Bears on their home ice Sunday, with just 13 shots on goal to show for it. Will the one game this week against Binghamton be a momentum killer?

+1

 This Week: @ BNG 11/17
Record: 10-2-0-1

3

 Last Week: SA 4 @ GR 7, SA 6 @ RFD 0, SA 2 @ CHI 1
The Politburo argued into the night to put San Antonio in first over the Roadrunners after yet another positive week, then Sunday afternoon the Penguins went out and scored 5 goals in Hershey on 13 shots.

-1

 This Week: vs. GR 11/14, @ TEX 11/15, vs. TEX 11/18
Record: 9-3-1-0

4

 Last Week: TOR 2 @ WBS 4, TOR 4 @ BNG 1, TOR 4 @ BNG 1
Loss to Penguins coupled with the winning ways of the Roadrunners and Rampage drop the Marlies out of the top three this week, but not to far out. Regroup with a pair against Syracuse this week.

-3

 This Week: vs. SYR 11/18, vs. SYR 11/19
Record: 11-4-0-0

5

 Last Week: CHA 5 @ UTI 2, CHA 5 @ UTI 2, CHA 3 @ SYR 5
Were the first team to ten wins this season. Competition isn’t up their level yet, but that doesn’t matter when the points are tallied at the end of the day.

n/a

 This Week: @ SPR 11/15, @ SPR 11/17, @ BRI 11/18
Record: 10-4-0-0

Click through here to see teams 6 through 30

Power Rankings

AHL Power Rankings: Week 5

Comments Off on AHL Power Rankings: Week 5 Posted by on November 6, 2017

Five weeks into the AHL season and it looks like there is some separation of the wheat from the chaff from the 30 AHL teams at the top and the bottom of the league.

The middle? Heh. Anyone’s guess.

The Toronto Marlies are the combine this week, mowing down a strong team in Laval, a strung team making a turnaround in Hershey and a strong Lehigh Valley side this week handily. They are followed by a San Antonio team that has impressed, a Wilkes-Barre team who is always strong and a one (regulation) loss Tucson team and then a Charlotte team which is buzzing teams as well.

To get teams 6 through 30, hop through the jump after the Tucson capsule if you didn’t link in direct.

Enjoy…

1

 Last Week: TOR 3 @ LAV 0, TOR 4 @ HER 1, TOR 5 @ LV 1
Marlies are bulldozing teams right now and are your new number one team in the Chirps from Center Ice AHL Power Rankings.

+3

 This Week: @ WBS 11/8, @ BNG 11/10, @ BNG 11/11
Record: 9-3-0-0

2

 Last Week: SA 2 @ IA 3 (OT), SA 4 @ IA 2
3 of 4 points will do well to keep San Antonio in the top five in this weeks Rankings. The road trip continues this week thorough the Central Division.

n/a

 This Week: @ GR 11/8, @ RFD 11/10, @ CHI 11/11
Record: 7-2-1-0

3

 Last Week: WBS 6 @ LV 5 (SO), HER 3 @ WBS 2 (SO)
Sunday was a bad day for the Penguins, who let a point slip to rival Hershey. Now week begins with a stop in from Toronto, who are just mowing teams down right now.

+2

 This Week: vs. TOR 11/8, vs. PRO 11/11, @ HER 11/12
Record: 7-2-0-1

4

 Last Week: CLE 2 @ TUC 1 (OT), CLE 2 @ TUC 3 (OT)
Don’t look now but there is only one team in the AHL with one regulation loss, and you are reading their capsule. Roadrunners are a point machine right now.

+5

 This Week: vs. BAK 11/10, vs. BAK 11/11
Record: 6-1-2-0

5

 Last Week: CHA 6 @ BEL 1, CHA 2 @ BEL 1
We aren’t underestimating Charlotte, you shouldn’t either. This is a very good team.

+5

 This Week: @ UTI 11/8, @ UTI 11/10, @ SYR 11/11
Record: 8-3-0-0

Click through here to see teams 6 through 30

Power Rankings

AHL Power Rankings: Week 4

Comments Off on AHL Power Rankings: Week 4 Posted by on October 30, 2017

Not much change this week for the top five in the Week 4 Chirps from Center Ice AHL Power Rankings. Some shuffling in the top four, and a new Pennsylvania team make up this weeks top five.

Teams are still looking for an identity as the calendar flips to November and we leave October behind. Other teams, like those in the top five, appear to have that identity and will look to build on a successful opening month.

Providence remains your top team this week. Really with every team in the top five last week suffering a loss, its was tough to shake up the top five that much. San Antonio bumps up to number two and Milwaukee moves down one. Toronto remains number four after a split this week and watch out for the Penguins, who have won five straight. Here they are for you, and you can click through the jump after the Pens if you didn’t link in direct to see 6 through 30.

1

 Last Week: PRO 4 @ BNG 1, PRO 2 @ HER 3
Bruins may have backed off a bit playing a toiling Hershey Bears side and it cost them two points in Chocolatetown Saturday.

n/a

 This Week: vs. BRI 11/3, @ HFD 11/4, vs. BRI 11/5
Record: 6-2-0-0

2

 Last Week: SJ 1 @ SA 3, SD 5 @ SA 3
San Antonio holding it together through October, look to continue the trend against a disappointing Wild side this week.

+1

 This Week: @ IA 11/2, @ IA 11/3
Record: 6-2-0-0

3

 Last Week: MIL 5 @ RFD 2, MIL 1 @ CHI 2
Milwaukee is playing a division heavy schedule right now and are getting points.

-1

 This Week: vs. GR 11/1, vs. RFD 11/3, @ GR 11/5
Record: 5-2-0-0

4

 Last Week: TOR 4 @ SYR 2, LAV 3 @ TOR 2
Split a pair this week. A stop in Laval precedes a trip though Pennsylvania starting Saturday in Hershey.

n/a

 This Week: @ LAV 11/1, @ HER 11/4, @ LV 11/5
Record: 6-3-0-0

5

 Last Week: HER 2 @ WBS 3, WBS 5 @ BRI 2
Penguins have won five in a row and look to push that streak to six and seven against their in-state rivals this week.

+4

 This Week: @ LV 11/3, vs. HER 11/5
Record: 6-2-0-0

Click through here to see teams 6 through 30

Power Rankings

AHL Power Rankings: Week 3

Comments Off on AHL Power Rankings: Week 3 Posted by on October 23, 2017

We are through the third week in the American Hockey League and there are a lot of teams looking for an identity.

Some, like this weeks top team in Providence, have found that identity. The Bruins, as advertised, are a great team. Others, like last place Ontario Reign in the 30 spot this week, are still looking for a win and that identity.

Lots to get to this week, like every week, so let’s get ripping by showing you the top five teams and then jumping through to 6-30 if you didn’t link in direct from anywhere. Starting off in Providence….

1

 Last Week: PRO 5 @ SPR 2, BEL 2 @ PRO 3 (SO), LAV 1 @ PRO 4
P-Bruins won three games with three different goaltenders. The teeth on that buzzsaw in Rhode Island are getting sharper.

+10

 This Week: @ BNG 10/27, @ HER 10/28
Record: 5-1-0-0

2

 Last Week: HER 1 @ MIL 4, RFD 6 @ MIL 2
Were the last team to lose in the AHL, only yield to the Providence Bruins this week in the Rankings because of it. Nice tests this week.

-1

 This Week: @ RFD 10/27, @ CHI 10/28
Record: 4-1-0-0

3

 Last Week: SA 3 @ TEX 2 (SO), SA 6 @ TEX 2, TEX 1 @ SA 3
Rampage sweep in-state Texas this week and are probably the best team in the AHL you don’t think of right now.

+4

 This Week: vs. SJ 10/27, vs. SD 10/29
Record: 5-1-0-0

4

 Last Week: CHA 0 @ TOR 4, CHA 6 @ TOR 4
Split a pair with the Checkers this week. Still lead the North, and should keep on their winning ways this week.

-1

 This Week: @ SYR 10/27, vs. LAV 10/28
Record: 5-2-0-0

5

 Last Week: BRI 2 @ LV 5, LV 4 @ BNG 3
Phantoms are off to an expected good start. How long can they sustain it remains the question.

+5

 This Week: vs. SPR 10/25, @ SPR 10/27, vs. HFD 10/28
Record: 5-1-0-1

Click through here to see teams 6 through 30

Power Rankings

AHL Power Rankings: Week 2

Comments Off on AHL Power Rankings: Week 2 Posted by on October 16, 2017

Week 2 AHL Power Rankings are due and there isn’t that much of a shake up at the top.

The new number one team is the only team undefeated after the second week of play, and that’s the Milwaukee Admirals.

Last week’s number one, the Texas Stars, did not fall too far, they drop to second.

Last week I debuted a new format to the Rankings, and this week I think to draw more eye to it while scanning the website, I am going to give you the top 5 teams and then make you click the jump for the teams 6-30. If you link in direct via e-mail, Twitter, Facebook or otherwise, you won’t see the jump. Let me know what you think.

Here we go starting with the Top 5…

1

 Last Week: MIL 5 @ RFD 3
Admirals are still undefeated after just playing one game this weekend against Rockford. Welcome the Hershey Bears from the Eastern Conference and rematch against the IceHogs this week.

+3

 This Week: vs. HER 10/20, vs. RFD 10/21
Record: 3-0-0-0

2

 Last Week: TEX 3 @ SD 1, TEX 1 @ SD 5
Stars will get cozy this week with in-state rival San Antonio, with a trio of games.

-1

 This Week: vs. SA 10/20, vs. SA 10/21, @ SA 10/22
Record: 3-1-0-0

3

 Last Week: TOR 2 @ HFD 5, PRO 3 @ TOR 2, TOR 2 @ SPR 1
Nice weekend for Toronto through New England, especially after dealing Providence their first loss of the season Saturday.

+3

 This Week: vs. CHA 10/21, vs. CHA 10/22
Record: 4-1-0-0

4

 Last Week: BNG 7 @ LAV 8 (OT), BNG 5 @ LAV 1
This team can run with anyone it looks like early on. Tough road test through the Atlantic this week should hash out that claim.

+1

 This Week: @ WBS 10/20, @ BRI 10/21, @ PRO 10/22
Record: 3-1-0-0

5

 Last Week: BNG 7 @ LAV 8 (OT), BNG 5 @ LAV 1
Devils are shaping up to be a tough team. Lost a run and gun affair Friday in a game that saw three hat tricks then come back and adjust and handle the Rocket easily Saturday night.

+7

 This Week: @ SYR 10/20, vs. LV 10/21
Record: 2-0-1-0

Click through here to see teams 6 through 30

Power Rankings

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