AHL Power Rankings: December 10-16
The second week of December brought about some more changes to this week’s rankings, as the No. 1 spot is occupied by yet another new team who beat out two others to take it. In addition, one team saw one of its players reach a significant career milestone.
Meanwhile, find out which struggling team found its way back into the top third after struggling for the past couple of weeks, while another got off the bottom to start its way back up. 
Also this week, we will be trying something different. These rankings are based more around win streaks and a team-centric performance rather than singling out individual player performances. However, the stats and quality points system still applies.
Lastly, due to the upcoming holiday, next week’s power rankings will be published on Sunday, December 23. The publication date of the final rankings of 2012 is yet to be determined, but will likely be on Sunday, December 30.
Here we go!
30. Grand Rapids Griffins
Last Week: 9
Weekly Record: 0-2
It was not a good week for the Griffins. The third-place team in the Western Conference suffered two shutout losses against two lower-ranked opponents, the Peoria Rivermen and the Toronto Marlies. The pair of losses came after a top-10 finish the previous week.
Upcoming Schedule: Wednesday, December 19 vs. Rochester Americans, Friday, December 21 vs. Abbotsford Heat, Saturday, December 22 vs. Chicago Wolves
29. Lake Erie Monsters
Last Week: 15
Weekly Record: 0-3
The Monsters are on a four-game losing streak after a week that included being shutout against the last-place Hamilton Bulldogs, as well as a close 7-6 loss over Rochester. The streak continues from December 7, a 5-1 loss to the Charlotte Checkers.
Upcoming Schedule: Wednesday vs. Toronto Marlies, Thursday, December 20 and Saturday vs. Houston Aeros
28. Rockford IceHogs
Last Week: 23
Weekly Record: 0-1-1
The IceHogs’ two losses aren’t as bad as the Monsters’ three, but they have also lost four games in a row. However, none of the losses have come by more than two goals, and Friday’s 4-3 loss to the Milwaukee Admirals gave Rockford a loser point.
Upcoming Schedule: Wednesday and Friday at Milwaukee, Saturday vs. Abbotsford
27. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
Last Week: 28
Weekly Record: 0-3
Injuries and lack of offensive production have put the Penguins on a five-game losing streak dating back to overtime and shootout losses against the Hershey Bears and Portland Pirates. This week, the Pens faltered against an Albany Devils team that was in last place in the AHL before scoring one goal in two games against East Division foes the Binghamton Senators and Syracuse Crunch.
Upcoming Schedule: Wednesday at Binghamton, Saturday at Syracuse
26. Adirondack Phantoms
Last Week: 7
Weekly Record: 0-2
The Phantoms continue bouncing back and forth in the rankings, coming back to the bottom after a shutout loss over Syracuse before losing 3-2 to the Manchester Monarchs. Adirondack is on a three-game losing skid that began with an overtime loss to Providence last Sunday.
Upcoming Schedule: Wednesday vs. St. John’s IceCaps, Friday at Syracuse, Saturday at Bridgeport Sound Tigers
25. San Antonio Rampage
Last Week: 1
Weekly Record: 0-4
After a big week last week, the Rampage came crashing back to earth after dropping all of their contests, including being swept against the Oklahoma City Barons. However, the team earned 12 points in the quality system by losing to tougher opponents.
Upcoming Schedule: Wednesday at Texas Stars, Friday at Toronto, Saturday at Hamilton
24. Abbotsford Heat
Last Week: 17
Weekly Record: 1-1-0-1
Abbotsford started the week with a shootout loss to Rochester before losing to Texas, 3-1, on Friday, but came out on the winning end of a shootout in its second game against the Stars on Saturday.
Rookie forward Max Reinhart and the Abbotsford Heat split a pair of shootouts this week, but fell seven spots in the rankings. (Photo courtesy: SendtoNews)
Upcoming Schedule: Wednesday at Chicago, Friday at Grand Rapids, Saturday at Rockford
23. Worcester Sharks
Last Week: 19
Weekly Record: 1-2
In between losses to the Connecticut Whale and the Portland Pirates, the Sharks saved their weekend with a come-from-behind shootout win over the Bears on Saturday. Worcester’s last eight games have been decided by one goal, and the team is 4-4 in that stretch.
Upcoming Schedule: Friday at Providence Bruins
22. Binghamton Senators
Last Week: 25
Weekly Record: 1-1
The Senators move up three spots after bouncing back from a brief two-game losing skid to beat the Penguins 3-1 on Friday. Prior to that, they dropped a one-goal game to the Crunch, the top team in the Eastern Conference.
Upcoming Schedule: Wednesday vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Friday at Rochester, Saturday vs. Rochester
21. Springfield Falcons
Last Week: 10
Weekly Record: 1-1-1
Springfield lost to a red-hot Providence Bruins squad before dropping a 3-2 overtime decision to the IceCaps, who snapped a lengthy losing streak of their own. However, on Sunday, the Falcons came out on top in a shootout with the Monarchs, winning 3-2.
Upcoming Schedule: Wednesday at Portland Pirates, Saturday at Hershey Bears
20. Connecticut Whale
Last Week: 24
Weekly Record: 1-2
Although the Whale defeated the Sharks on Wednesday, they have lost four of their last five games, including being shut out 1-0 over the Pirates on Saturday. Their last three losses, including Saturday’s, have all come by one goal.
Upcoming Schedule: Friday at Manchester, Saturday vs. Providence
19. Manchester Monarchs
Last Week: 22
Weekly Record: 1-1-0-1
The Monarchs have losses in three of their last four games, including two defeats this weekend against Portland and Springfield, the latter of which came in a shootout. However, in between that, they beat the Phantoms on Saturday to prevent an 0-3 weekend.
Upcoming Schedule: Friday vs. Connecticut, Saturday vs. Portland
18. Bridgeport Sound Tigers
Last Week: 16
Weekly Record: 1-0-1-1
After looking like a tough Eastern Conference team early in the season, the Sound Tigers have fallen to 10th in the standings after overtime and shootout losses against Portland and Norfolk, respectively. However, they beat the Admirals in overtime in the first of a two-game set on Friday.
Nino Niederreiter had three points in three games for the Sound Tigers this past week. (Icon SMI)
Upcoming Schedule: Wednesday vs. Albany, Saturday vs. Adirondack
17. Norfolk Admirals
Last Week: 12
Weekly Record: 1-0-1
The Admrials played the Sound Tigers this past week, falling 4-3 in overtime on Friday before earning the extra point with a 3-2 shootout win on Saturday. The win snapped a five-game losing skid for the Ads.
Emerson Etem scored in a shootout to help the Admirals defeat Bridgeport and end a five-game losing skid. {Photoree – S. Yume}
Upcoming Schedule: Wednesday at Hershey, Friday and Saturday vs. Albany
16. Texas Stars
Last Week: 5
Weekly Record: 1-0-0-1
Texas took on Abbotsford twice this week and was victorious with a 3-1 win on Friday. But on Saturday, the Stars scored just one goal of their own in a 2-1 shootout loss. It marked the end of a period in which they won four out of their last five games.
Upcoming Schedule: Wednesday vs. San Antonio, Friday and Saturday at Oklahoma City
15. Chicago Wolves
Last Week: 18
Weekly Record: 2-0
Chicago is on a three-game winning streak after defeating Hamilton and Lake Erie this past week. Thursday’s win over the Bulldogs marked the first time the Wolves scored more than three goals in a game since a November 20 win over Milwaukee by a 5-3 score.
Upcoming Schedule: Wednesday vs. Abbotsford, Saturday at Grand Rapids
14. Providence Bruins
Last Week: 2
Weekly Record: 2-1
The Bruins defeated the Falcons on Friday, scoring six goals before winning a 2-1 decision over the Devils in a shootout on Saturday. But on Sunday, they were shutout, 4-0, by the IceCaps to end their five-game winning streak.
Upcoming Schedule: Friday vs. Worcester, Saturday at Connecticut
13. Toronto Marlies
Last Week: 21
Weekly Record: 2-0
Although the Marlies saw a three-game winning streak end last week, they got right back on track this past weekend. They beat the Americans in a shootout on Saturday before shutting out the third-place Griffins on Sunday. Keith Aucoin reached a career milestone in the win, scoring his 800th career point in the AHL.
Upcoming Schedule: Wednesday at Lake Erie, Friday vs. San Antonio, Saturday vs. St. John’s
12. Milwaukee Admirals
Last Week: 8
Weekly Record: 2-2
Milwaukee’s results were all similar this week, as the Admirals fell by 3-1 scores against the Checkers and the Rivermen. Their two wins were 4-3 scores against the IceHogs and the Bulldogs, with Friday’s win over Rockford coming in overtime. However, the Ads are 3-4 overall in their last seven games, so some consistency is needed.
Upcoming Schedule: Wednesday and Friday vs. Rockford
11. Oklahoma City Barons
Last Week: 30
Weekly Record: 2-1-0-1
After losing five games in a row, including to Peoria on Tuesday, the Barons swept a series with San Antonio, scoring five goals in each game. However, the momentum didn’t last, as they lost 4-3 to Houston in a shotoout on Sunday. Still, Oklahoma City earned five out of eight points this past week to start its climb back to the top 10.
Oklahoma City lost a shootout against Houston this week, but swept San Antonio to sit just outside the top 10 of this week’s rankings. (Steven Christy/OKC Barons)
Upcoming Schedule: Friday and Saturday vs. Texas
10. Hershey Bears
Last Week: 6
Weekly Record: 2-0-0-1
The Bears swept the IceCaps in St. John’s, including a 4-0 shutout on Wednesday. However, they were unable to get a winning streak going again, as they dropped a 3-1 lead against the Sharks to lose 4-3 in the shootout on Saturday. Still, Hershey’s recent run of success has put it in eighth place in the Eastern Conference, an improvement over a recent 12th-place ranking.
Upcoming Schedule: Wednesday vs. Norfolk, Saturday vs. Springfield
9. Houston Aeros
Last Week: 26
Weekly Record: 2-1-0-1
Houston started the week strong with a 5-1 win over San Antonio on Tuesday, but the Aeros were swept by the Checkers, including a 3-0 loss on Saturday. They came back on Sunday, however, to defeat Oklahoma City in a shootout. Houston is 2-3 since winning six games in a row back in November and into the first week of December.
Upcoming Schedule: Thursday and Saturday at Lake Erie
8. Rochester Americans
Last Week: 20
Weekly Record: 2-0-0-1
The Amerks crack the top 10 after a shootout win against the Heat, the top team in the Western Conference. They also beat the Monsters in a wild 7-6 game on Thursday, but ended the week with a shootout loss against the Marlies.
Prospect Luke Adam had two points as the Americans beat the Monsters 7-6 on Thursday. Micheline/SynergyMax)
Upcoming Schedule: Wednesday at Grand Rapids, Friday vs. Binghamton, Saturday at Binghamton
7. Syracuse Crunch
Last Week: 18
Weekly Record: 3-0
The Crunch are in first place in the Eastern Conference and proved why this week, shutting out the Phantoms, 3-0, on Friday before doing the same against the Penguins on Saturday, but scoring four goals. They also defeated the Senators 4-3 on Wednesday.
Upcoming Schedule: Friday vs. Adirondack, Saturday vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton
6. Hamilton Bulldogs
Last Week: 14
Weekly Record: 2-2
The Bulldogs beat the Monsters on Tuesday, 1-0, before falling to the Wolves on Thursday. They then split the weekend part of their schedule, winning against Rockford but failing to keep it up against Milwaukee. Despite a 3-2 record in their last five games, they are in last place in the Western Conference.
Upcoming Schedule: Tuesday, December 18 at Peoria, Friday vs. St. John’s, Saturday vs. San Antonio
5. St. John’s IceCaps
Last Week: 29
Weekly Record: 2-2
St. John’s was swept by Hershey on Tuesday and Wednesday, but salvaged the week with an overtime win against Springfield and a shutout victory over a tough Providence team. The wins helped the IceCaps get on track after losing five straight games.
Upcoming Schedule: Wednesday at Adirondack, Friday at Hamilton, Saturday at Toronto
4. Albany Devils
Last Week: 4
Weekly Record: 1-0-0-1
The Devils won their fifth straight game on Wednesday against the Penguins, and Bobby Butler set a team record with four goals to earn the AHL Player of the Week award.
Bobby Butler was named AHL Player of the Week after a four-goal game against the Penguins on Wednesday. (Andrew Rodger THW)
However, on Saturday, the Devils lost their sixth shootout of the season to Providence, falling by a score of 2-1. Albany has not won a shootout yet this year.
Upcoming Schedule: Wednesday at Bridgeport, Friday and Saturday at Norfolk
3. Peoria Rivermen
Last Week: 3
Weekly Record: 3-0
Peoria keeps its spot after a perfect weekend to bring its win streak to four games. The highlights included a 4-2 win over Oklahoma City and a 3-0 shutout of Grand Rapids, and the Rivermen wrapped up the week by beating Milwaukee 3-1.
Upcoming Schedule: Tuesday vs. Hamilton, Thursday and Friday at Charlotte
2. Charlotte Checkers
Last Week: 27
Weekly Record: 4-0
Charlotte comes back to the top three after spending recent weeks on the bottom of the rankings. The Checkers’ big week included a sweep of the Aeros and wins over Milwaukee and the Rampage in which they held both of those opponents to one goal. They are now winners in five of their last six.
Upcoming Schedule: Thursday and Friday vs. Peoria
1. Portland Pirates
Last Week: 7
Weekly Record: 4-0
The Eastern Conference is back on top this week after Portland won all four of its games this week to build up a five-game winning streak. After a 2-1 overtime win over Bridgeport on Tuesday, the Pirates won their other three games in regulation, including shutting out Connecticut 1-0 on Saturday. Their recent surge has put them in third place in the East.
Upcoming Schedule: Wednesday vs. Springfield, Saturday at Manchester
