AHL POWER RANKINGS: Checkers ready for Crunch
Each Tuesday, EP Rinkside serves up the weekly AHL Power Rankings, a look at the top Calder Cup contenders across the 31-team circuit and their player development picture.
The Charlotte Checkers faced the greatest threat to their months-long clamp on the AHL lead this past weekend and swatted away the Rochester Americans in a decisive two-game sweep. Another challenger in the Syracuse Crunch invades Charlotte this week for a pair of meetings. Syracuse is three points behind Charlotte and second overall in the AHL.
AHL TOP 10
1. CHARLOTTE CHECKERS (CAROLINA HURRICANES)
Few teams have gotten even remotely within striking distance of the Checkers in months, standings-wise, but Rochester had charged forward to within two points of the Checkers. That was as close as the Amerks came, however. Charlotte emphatically sent them limping out of town. If this past weekend was a potential Eastern Conference final preview, it certainly left Rochester with something to think about for the next two months. The confirmed loss of top forward Janne Kuokkanen for the season is a substantial loss without a doubt; however, the organization’s aggressive work at the NHL and AHL deadlines did leave the roster with enough depth to handle that blow to the line-up.
Last Week: #1 – 15th week in a row
2. SYRACUSE CRUNCH (TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING)
Beating up on the likes of the Hartford Wolf Pack and Binghamton Devils at home is one thing. Going to Charlotte for back-to-back contests is another task altogether. Syracuse will also have to do it without defenseman Cameron Gaunce, who is on recall to Tampa Bay. While they do not have the Lightning’s other-world plus-96 goal differential, they do have an AHL-best plus-68 mark in that category. With a seven-game point streak (6-0-1-0), they are also quickly showing that there is life after goaltender Connor Ingram, who remains exiled in the ECHL with the Orlando Solar Bears.
Last Week: #3 – (▲+1)
3. CHICAGO WOLVES (VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS)
There is no replacing AHL leading scorer Daniel Carr, not after San Antonio Rampage forward Jordan Nolan put him out of the line-up with an open-ice hit on March 5th. But the Wolves got their own revenge this past Saturday night, shredding the Rampage in a 6-2 blowout and all but officially destroying any remaining bit of playoff hope for San Antonio. The Curtis McKenzie–T.J. Tynan–Keegan Kolesar line tormented San Antonio, and the Wolves also had forward Tomas Hyka back in the line-up this weekend after he missed a month with an injury. Any potential return for Carr does not sound imminent, but the Wolves are working around the significant loss. For a team that has lost the likes of Brandon Pirri, Erik Brännström, and now Carr (at least for now) through the course of the season, the Wolves have more than overcome those substantial subtractions. The Oskar Dansk– Max Lagacé goaltending tandem has also become a real strength for the Wolves, who continue to lead the Western Conference.
Last Week: #4 – (▲+1)
4. BAKERSFIELD CONDORS (EDMONTON OILERS)
At times it can look like the Condors are almost toying opponents, and it certainly seemed that way this past Saturday night when they crushed the visiting Ontario Reign, 7-0. That gave the Condors their 20th win in the past 23 games (20-2-1-0) as they continue to pull away from the Pacific Division pack. They can add further to that lead when they visit Ontario on Friday, their lone game this week. They are in a stretch of two games in 12 nights, which means ample time to fine-tune their game for the upcoming Calder Cup Playoffs.
Last Week: #5 – (▲+1)
5. ROCHESTER AMERICANS (BUFFALO SABRES)
The trip south to Charlotte should be a wake-up call for the Amerks that there still exists a clear line between them and the league’s best. Charlotte held the Amerks to all of two goals in the two contests and swept the teams’ four-game season series. This weekend Rochester faces back-to-back road games with a potential first-round opponent, the Toronto Marlies. They also have the desperate Cleveland Monsters in town on Friday night to start their 3-in-3 weekend.
Last Week: #2 – (▼-3)
6. BRIDGEPORT SOUND TIGERS (NY ISLANDERS)
For the second time in the past three games, the Sound Tigers were blown out on the road this past weekend. The Hershey Bears, a potential first-round opponent, manhandled the Sound Tigers this past Saturday night. Bridgeport did rally the next afternoon to defeat the Springfield Thunderbirds and continue dominant home-ice play. That win started an eight-game homestand for the Sound Tigers, who are trying to fend off Hershey for first-round home-ice advantage. However, this week’s home slate is quite formidable – the Marlies, Belleville Senators, and Crunch all visit Bridgeport.
Last Week: #6 – 3rd week in a row
7. GRAND RAPIDS GRIFFINS (DETROIT RED WINGS)
This win-one-lose-one pattern that the Griffins have taken in the past month is decidedly unimpressive. They started their six-game road trip with a victory this past Saturday night, and they need to get out of this ongoing rut with a strong four games this week. All season long the power play has been a major problem, and those issues continue in a 0-for-17 slump on the man-advantage. Their power play remains stuck in last place in the AHL. With all but one of their potential first-round opponents ranking in the top half of the AHL on the penalty kill, that combination may become an even bigger problem for the Griffins when the Calder Cup Playoffs arrive in four weeks.
Last Week: #7 – 3rd week in a row
8. TORONTO MARLIES (TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS)
After a visit to Bridgeport, the Marlies can head home to Toronto. They have a chance to make it a very successful trip with a win in Bridgeport after taking two of three games this past weekend. Jeremy Bracco had a dominant week (2-7-9 in four games) to win the CCM/AHL Player of the Week Award as he continues his bid to take the league scoring lead. These may not be the powerhouse Marlies of the past few seasons, but they could be a most unwelcome first-round opponent for either Rochester or Syracuse.
Last Week: #8 – 4th week in a row
9. IOWA WILD (MINNESOTA WILD)
The Wild power play put on a clinic this past Friday night, blitzing San Antonio for a franchise-record five goals to take a 6-3 victory at home. Iowa’s 24.6 percent power play leads the AHL. In his past five games, defenseman Brennan Menell has a four- and a five-assist game. That foursome came in the win against the Rampage, and he is up to 2-35-37 in 57 games as a second-year pro. After two games at home, they are back on the road for another trip out to the Pacific Division that begins with a pair of games against the Tucson Roadrunners. They then visit the Stockton Heat this weekend.
Last Week: #9 – 3rd week in a row
10. HERSHEY BEARS (WASHINGTON CAPITALS)
Hershey made use of three home dates in four nights, taking five of six points. Catching Bridgeport for second place in the Atlantic Division may be a difficult task with the Bears still behind by four points, but this second-half reversal has been remarkable for Hershey. They can deal a substantial blow to the rival Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins’ playoff hopes at home on Tuesday night before they visit the Cleveland Monsters for a pair of weekend games. After a punishing schedule in the first half of March, their slate will lighten a bit for the rest of the month. They are eight points clear of the Atlantic Division playoff line, and it looks like playoff hockey will again return to Hershey after a rare one-year absence.
Last Week: #11 (▲+1)
UNDER CONSIDERATION
11. PROVIDENCE BRUINS (BOSTON BRUINS)
The P-Bruins have a chance to stock up on points this week, starting with a trip to see the Laval Rocket. They took three of four points in a swing through Pennsylvania. Another good week could have Providence nicely in control of a playoff spot.
Last Week: #10 – (▼-1)
IN CONTENTION
12. SAN DIEGO GULLS (ANAHEIM DUCKS)
After visiting the Manitoba Moose on Tuesday night, the Gulls will finish their schedule with nine consecutive Pacific Division match-ups. Bakersfield, the San Jose Barracuda or the Colorado Eagles are possible first-round opponents.
Last Week: #15 (▲+3)
13. BELLEVILLE SENATORS (OTTAWA SENATORS)
Normally, managing three of four points in a pair of weekend home games would be adequate. But the Sens left a point on the table in a shootout loss to the Laval Rocket. Instead they have to settle for a four-point lead for the North Division’s fourth-place slot. They have a tricky week ahead of them that includes stops at Providence and Bridgeport. Their remaining schedule is extremely challenging.
Last Week: #12 – (▼-1)
14. SAN JOSE BARRACUDA (SAN JOSE SHARKS)
They blew out red-hot Colorado Eagles, 9-0, to finish the teams’ two-game set in San Jose. The Barracuda visit the Tucson Roadrunners for a pair of games this weekend amid a very muddled Pacific Division picture.
Last Week: #14 – 2nd week in a row
15. COLORADO EAGLES (COLORADO AVALANCHE)
The ghastly 9-0 defeat at San Jose abruptly ended the Eagles’ nine-game winning streak. That aside, this is a team that went from four points out of the playoffs three weeks ago to a club with a comfortable nine-point clutch on a playoff spot, so some perspective is in order here.
Last Week: #18 (▲+3)
16. ROCKFORD ICEHOGS (CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS)
Rockford scored a critical 2-1 weekend-closing home win against the Texas Stars to bounce past them into fourth place in the Central Division. After hosting the Wolves, they can all but knock out the Milwaukee Admirals with a successful performance in a home-and-home series this weekend.
Last Week: #22 (▲+6)
17. TEXAS STARS (DALLAS STARS)
After a 1-2-0-0 Central Division road trip, the Stars return home for four consecutive games sitting one point out of fourth place in the division. They play seven of their next nine games at H-E-B Center, where they have thrived with a .717 point percentage.
Last Week: #13 (▼-4)
HANGING ON
18. CLEVELAND MONSTERS (COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS)
The Monsters had a 1-1-1 trip through the Central Division, but they really could have used another point or two. As it is, they are four points behind Belleville in the North Division. They face a Friday night game at Rochester and a late arrival home while the Bears are ensconced in Cleveland for this weekend’s back-to-back meetings.
Last Week: #19 (▲+1)
19. WILKES-BARRE/SCRANTON PENGUINS (PITTSBURGH PENGUINS)
Three consecutive wins have kept the Penguins in contention, but they lost 4-2 to the Marlies at home this past Sunday afternoon. Now they go to Hershey, play a home-and-home series with the rival Lehigh Valley Phantoms, and then have a home date with the Springfield Thunderbirds. Their 16-season playoff streak remains alive, but still very much in danger.
Last Week: #21 (▲+2)
20. LEHIGH VALLEY PHANTOMS (PHILADELPHIA FLYERS)
Lehigh Valley had dropped nine of 12 games before pulling off a 4-3 home win against the Marlies. That win may have kept their season alive, at least for another week. They face the critical home-and-home series with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton this weekend that they need badly if the playoff line is to remain within view.
Last Week: #17 (▼-3)
21. UTICA COMETS (VANCOUVER CANUCKS)
The Comets continue to stumble and have now lost seven in a row. They do not face a forgiving week ahead of them, either.
Last Week: #16 (▼-5)
22. MANITOBA MOOSE (WINNIPEG JETS)
The Moose really needed at least a point against the Gulls this past Sunday afternoon and fell short. An overtime loss to Texas this past Friday night also hurt. They have a chance to make it a 4-1-1-0 homestand with a victory on Tuesday night against those same Gulls. After that, it is back on the road for a five-game trip that starts with back-to-back weekend games at Colorado before stopping by Texas next week. When they do return home in two weeks, they will be facing a two-game visit from the Condors. For now, however, they are four points out of a playoff spot. They also hold at least one game in hand on their three competitors for that fourth-place spot. Kristian Vesalainen could be a major talent infusion for the line-up.
Last Week: #20 (▼-2)
23. MILWAUKEE ADMIRALS (NASHVILLE PREDATORS)
The Admirals continue to hover near the Central Division playoff line even though their 22 regulation/overtime wins are the second-fewest in the AHL. They have stocked up on points via a league-worst 13 overtime losses to stay within three points of the fourth-place IceHogs. But this is a team that has won four of its past 18 games. They have three consecutive games with Rockford ahead of them while also trying to fend off Texas and Manitoba.
Last Week: #23 – 3rd week in a row
OUT OF CONTENTION
24. SPRINGFIELD THUNDERBIRDS (FLORIDA PANTHERS)
It is now Chris Driedger’s net for the Thunderbirds, and he is handling the opportunity well.
Last Week: #26 (▲+2)
25. HARTFORD WOLF PACK (NEW YORK RANGERS)
Rangers management blew apart the Hartford dressing room with multiple second-half trades, but the Wolf Pack are playing the spoiler role very well. They are on a 6-4-0-0 push as they try to break out of last place in the Atlantic Division.
Last Week: #29 (▲+4)
26. TUCSON ROADRUNNERS (ARIZONA COYOTES)
A pair of road wins against the Stockton Heat finally ended the Roadrunners’ ill-timed seven-game losing streak.
Last Week: #26 – 2nd week in a row
27. LAVAL ROCKET (MONTREAL CANADIENS)
Much like Hartford, the Rocket are taking to life as a spoiler.
Last Week: #27 – 3rd week in a row
28. SAN ANTONIO RAMPAGE (ST. LOUIS BLUES)
Different season, different NHL affiliate, same late-season crash for the Rampage. Five consecutive losses and four wins in their past 18 games have finished off their season.
Last Week: #25 (▼-3)
29. STOCKTON HEAT (CALGARY FLAMES)
This team had the potential to be so much more. They added three more losses to their total this past week.
Last Week: #28 (▼-1)
30. BINGHAMTON DEVILS (NEW JERSEY DEVILS)
Binghamton’s losing streak is up to eight games and shows no sign of slowing down. Their .415 point percentage is the worst in the league. Ontario may pass the Devils in the points column before long.
Last Week: #30 – 3rd week in a row
31. ONTARIO REIGN (LOS ANGELES KINGS)
The Reign have closed to within four points of the Devils for 30th place in the AHL.
Last Week: #31 – 5th week in a row