AHL Power Rankings: December 3-9
The last month of 2012 got started with the usual shakeups in this week’s rankings. Six teams earned the same number of spots in our scoring system, making the middle of the rankings very difficult to accomplish.
Meanwhile, one team set a franchise record for a winning streak, and another played in front of a sellout crowd at the home of its NHL affiliate. Also, which team makes its first appearance in the top spot with a perfect week unlike any other the AHL has seen this year? 
Plus, find out which previously dominant team is trying to break out of a funk once again.
Here we go!
30. Oklahoma City Barons
Last Week: 27
Weekly Record: 0-2
The Barons are struggling since taking the No. 1 spot two weeks ago, as they dropped two games to the San Antonio Rampage this week. Magnus Pajaarvi had two points in Saturday’s 4-3 loss, and Jordan Eberle matched the mark in a 3-2 defeat on Sunday. Oklahoma City is now on a four-game losing skid after winning five straight.
Upcoming Schedule: Tuesday, December 11 vs. Peoria Rivermen, Friday, December 14 and Saturday, December 15 vs. San Antonio Rampage, Sunday, December 16 at Houston Aeros
29. St. John’s IceCaps
Last Week: 12
Weekly Record: 0-2
St. John’s dropped a two-game set against the Springfield Falcons, losing 5-3 on Friday and 4-2 on Saturday. Joey Sides had two points in Friday’s loss, and on Saturday, Zach Redmond had two points of his own as the IceCaps went 2-for-5 on the power play. They go into this week looking to break a three-game losing streak.
Upcoming Schedule: Tuesday and Wednesday, December 12 vs. Hershey Bears, Saturday at Springfield Falcons, Sunday at Providence Bruins
28. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
Last Week: 11
Weekly Record: 0-0-1-1
The Penguins got loser points for the first time this season, starting with a 5-4 overtime loss to the Hershey Bears on Friday. A 2-for-4 power play was not enough to keep the Bears from winning a back-and-forth game. On Saturday, the Pens blew a 3-0 lead to lose 4-3 in the shootout to the Portland Pirates. Beau Bennett had two points in the loss.
Upcoming Schedule: Wednesday at Albany Devils, Friday vs. Binghamton Senators, Saturday at Syracuse Crunch
27. Charlotte Checkers
Last Week: 30
Weekly Record: 1-2
Charlotte dropped the first of two games against the Lake Erie Monsters, 3-2, on Thursday, but won 5-1 on Friday. Riley Nash and Drayson Bowman each had two points in the victory.
However, the Checkers couldn’t keep the momentum, losing 5-2 to the Milwaukee Admirals on Sunday. Brett Sutter and Michal Jordan scored unassisted goals in defeat.
Upcoming Schedule: Tuesday vs. Milwaukee, Friday and Saturday vs. Houston, Sunday at San Antonio
26. Houston Aeros
Last Week: 8
Weekly Record: 1-1
The Aeros beat the Texas Stars 2-1 in overtime on Friday behind 35 saves from Matt Hackett. However, they closed out the weekend with a 3-2 loss to a lower-ranked Peoria squad on Sunday, which marked the end of a four-game winning streak.
Matt Hackett made 35 saves in Houston’s win over the Texas Stars. (Ross Bonander/THW)
Upcoming Schedule: Tuesday vs. San Antonio, Friday and Saturday at Charlotte, Sunday vs. Oklahoma City
25. Binghamton Senators
Last Week: 10
Weekly Record: 1-1
The Senators defeated the Pirates 6-1 on Friday, getting three points from three players and 40 saves from goaltender Ben Bishop. But on Saturday, their franchise record nine-game winning streak came to an end, as they lost 3-1 against the Norfolk Admirals. Derek Grant scored Binghamton’s lone goal.
Ben Bishop made 40 saves on Friday to help Binghamton set a franchise record with its ninth consecutive win. (Icon SMI)
Upcoming Schedule: Wednesday at Syracuse, Friday at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton
24. Connecticut Whale
Last Week: 25
Weekly Record: 1-2
Not much changes for Connecticut this week. It won 4-2 over the Bridgeport Sound Tigers on Wednesday thanks to two goals from J.T. Miller. But on Saturday, they were embarrassed by the Manchester Monarchs in a 9-2 loss. Tommy Grant had two points, while Cam Talbot and Jason Missiaen combined for 29 saves on 38 shots.
The Whale finished the week with a 1-0 loss to Albany. Talbot took the defeat with 26 saves.
Upcoming Schedule: Wednesday vs. Worcester Sharks, Friday vs. Albany, Saturday vs. Portland Pirates
23. Rockford IceHogs
Last Week: 2
Weekly Record: 1-2
On Friday, five players had two points and the IceHogs were 2-for-4 on the power play in a 5-3 win over Milwaukee. However, they lost 2-1 to the Chicago Wolves on Saturday, but got a goal from Kyle Beach. Rockford then scored twice on six power plays on Sunday, but still lost 4-2 to the Grand Rapids Griffins.
Upcoming Schedule: Friday at Milwaukee, Saturday vs. Hamilton Bulldogs
22. Manchester Monarchs
Last Week: 17
Weekly Record: 1-2
Manchester lost 3-2 to Portland on Friday, with Bryan Rodney scoring twice. The Monarchs then beat up the Whale on Saturday. Andrei Loktionov had three points on Saturday, and then added two more in Sunday’s loss to Worcester. Rodney also had two points on Sunday, while goaltender Peter Mannino made 40 saves.
Andrei Loktionov had five points in two games, standing out in a difficult weekend for Manchester. (Bridget Samuels/Flickr)
Upcoming Schedule: Friday at Portland, Saturday at Adirondack Phantoms, Sunday vs. Springfield Falcons
21. Toronto Marlies
Last Week: 4
Weekly Record: 1-1
The Marlies cannot stay consistent as of late. They beat the Rochester Americans 4-3 on Saturday thanks to three points apiece from Jake Gardiner and Nazem Kadri. But on Sunday, they lost 3-2 against the Abbotsford Heat.
Jake Gardiner posted three points to hep Toronto beat Rochester. (Ross Bonander/THW)
Upcoming Schedule: Saturday at Rochester Americans, Sunday vs. Grand Rapids Griffins
20. Rochester Americans
Last Week: 24
Weekly Record: 1-1
The Americans started off the week with a 3-1 win over Adirondack in which they got two goals from Kevin Porter and 41 saves from goalie Connor Knapp. However, they lost to the Marlies on Saturday. Jonathan Parker led the way for Rochester with two goals of his own.
Upcoming Schedule: Tuesday vs. Abbotsford Heat, Thursday, December 13 at Lake Erie Monsters, Saturday vs. Toronto
19. Worcester Sharks
Last Week: 13
Weekly Record: 1-0-0-1
The Sharks lost to the Providence Bruins, 3-2, in a shootout on Saturday, but bounced back to beat Manchester by the same score on Sunday. Three players had two points in the victory, and Worcester will go into the week with three wins in its last four games.
Upcoming Schedule: Wednesday at Connecticut, Saturday at Hershey, Sunday vs. Portland
18. Syracuse Crunch
Last Week: 23
Weekly Record: 1-1-0-1
Five players had two points in Friday’s 5-1 win over Hamilton, and the Crunch also went 2-for-5 on the power play. However, they struggled for the rest of the weekend, starting with a 3-2 shootout loss to the Phantoms on Saturday. J.T. Brown had two points for Syracuse.
The Crunch finished with a 7-2 blowout loss against the Sound Tigers on Sunday.
Upcoming Schedule: Wednesday vs. Binghamton, Friday at Adirondack, Saturday at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton
17. Abbotsford Heat
Last Week: 21
Weekly Record: 1-1-1
The Heat lost two games against the Rampage, falling by a 3-2 overtime score on Tuesday and being shut out 4-0 on Wednesday. In Wednesday’s loss, Danny Taylor and Leland Irving made 10 saves on just 13 shots.
Abbotsford ended the week on a high note, however, by defeating Toronto on Sunday. Roman Horak and Ben Walter each had two points in the win, helping the team end a three-game losing skid.
Upcoming Schedule: Tuesday at Rochester, Friday and Saturday vs. Texas Stars
16. Bridgeport Sound Tigers
Last Week: 28
Weekly Record: 1-2
Bridgeport improved this week but is still in the bottom third of the rankings after losing to Connecticut on Wednesday before falling 3-1 to Albany on Saturday. Nino Niederreiter had the Sound Tigers’ only goal against the Devils.
However, the team broke its eight-game losing streak on Sunday against Syracuse. Newly-appointed captain Colin McDonald had four points, and Bridgeport scored three times on five power-play chances.
Colin McDonald, who was just named the captain of the Sound Tigetrs, had four points in a blowout win over Syracuse on Sunday. (Siena Slusser)
Upcoming Schedule: Tuesday at Portland, Friday and Saturday at Norfolk Admirals
15. Lake Erie Monsters
Last Week: 19
Weekly Record: 1-1
The Monsters split two games against the Checkers. After Thursday’s win, however, they failed to complete the sweep on Friday. Geoff Walker had Lake Erie’s only goal in defeat.
Upcoming Schedule: Tuesday at Hamilton, Thursday vs. Rochester, Saturday vs. Chicago Wolves
14. Hamilton Bulldogs
Last Week: 16
Weekly Record: 1-1
Aaron Palushaj had the Bulldogs’ only goal in Friday’s loss to Syracuse, but Hamilton fought back against Hershey on Saturday. Cedrick Desjardins made 37 saves and Nathan Beaulieu had two points in the 3-2 win over the Bears.
Upcoming Schedule: Tuesday vs. Lake Erie, Thursday at Chicago, Saturday at Rockford, Sunday at Milwaukee
13. Chicago Wolves
Last Week: 18
Weekly Record: 1-1
The Wolves were shut out 3-0 on Friday at the hands of the Griffins, with Matt Climie making 34 saves. However, on Saturday, Chicago salvaged its weekend by beating Rockford on Saturday. Darren Haydar had two points in the win.
Upcoming Schedule: Thursday vs. Hamilton, Saturday at Lake Erie
12. Norfolk Admirals
Last Week: 5
Norfolk lost 2-1 to Hershey in front of a sellout crowd in Washington D.C. on Thursday, with Brandon McMillan getting the Admirals’ goal. But on Saturday, Fredrik Andersen had 39 saves to help the Admirals end Binghamton’s nine-game winning streak. Norfolk now has three wins in its last four games.
Upcoming Schedule: Friday and Saturday vs. Bridgeport
11. Portland Pirates
Last Week: 7
Weekly Record: 1-1
Brendan Shinnimin had the Pirates’ only goal in Friday’s loss to Binghamton, but on Saturday, Portland defeated a top Wilkes-Barre/Scranton team after coming back from a 3-0 deficit. Oliver Ekman-Larsson had two points, and the Pirates scored twice on four shootout attempts.
Upcoming Schedule: Tuesday vs. Bridgeport, Friday vs. Manchester, Saturday at Connecticut, Sunday at Worcester
10. Springfield Falcons
Last Week: 14
Weekly Record: 2-0
The Falcons move up four spots after sweeping a set with the IceCaps. Cam Atkinson had four points on Friday, and then on Saturday, Ryan Johansen tallied three points while Curtis McElhinney made 46 saves in goal. Springfield is now in the midst of a three-game win streak.
Ryan Johansen had three points in the Falcons’ second win over the IceCaps this weekend. (Icon SMI)
Upcoming Schedule: Friday at Providence, Saturday vs. St. John’s, Sunday at Manchester
9. Grand Rapids Griffins
Last Week: 20
Weekly Record: 2-1
Although the Griffins started the week with a 2-1 loss to the Rivermen on Wednesday, with Riley Sheahan getting the only goal, they came back on Friday by shutting out the Wolves. Tom McCollum made 20 saves, while Landon Ferraro posted two points.
Ferraro then scored twice on Sunday in Grand Rapids’ win over Rockford, and three wins in four games have helped the Griffins get back into the top 10 of the rankings.
Upcoming Schedule: Friday vs. Peoria, Sunday at Toronto
8. Milwaukee Admirals
Last Week: 22
Weekly Record: 1-1-1
The Admirals lost to the Stars by a score of 2-1 in overtime on Wednesday with top prospect Austin Watson scoring for Milwaukee. Gabriel Bourque then had two points in Friday’s defeat against the IceHogs, but the Admirals came back to beat the Checkers on Sunday. Michael Latta had three points in the win.
Upcoming Schedule: Tuesday at Charlotte, Friday vs. Rockford, Saturday at Peoria, Sunday vs. Hamilton
7. Adirondack Phantoms
Last Week: 29
Weekly Record: 1-1-1
The Phantoms are back in the top 10, but started the week with a loss to the Americans on Wednesday. Sean Couturier had the lone goal. Adirondack followed up with a shootout win over Syracuse, which featured Brayden Schenn posting three points and two goals on four shootout tries.
Brayden Schenn had three points to help the Phantoms beat the Crunch in a shootout on Saturday. (theseoduke/Flickr)
On Sunday, the Phantoms fell to the Bruins by the same score in overtime. Tye McGinn had two points, while Scott Munroe made 44 saves.
Upcoming Schedule: Friday vs. Syracuse, Saturday vs. Manchester
6. Hershey Bears
Last Week: 9
Weekly Record: 2-1
Hershey is coming into form as an Eastern Conference threat after getting a win over Norfolk at Verizon Center, home of the Washington Capitals. They then went to Wilkes-Barre on Friday and got an overtime win, with three players posting two points in the victory.
However, Hamilton spoiled Hershey’s attempts at a perfect week in Saturday’s loss. Ryan Potulny scored twice as the Bears’ brief two-game winning streak ended.
Ryan Potulny scored both of Hershey’s goals in its loss to Hamilton on Saturday (MR_53/Flickr)
Upcoming Schedule: Tuesday and Wednesday at St. John’s, Saturday vs. Worcester
5. Texas Stars
Last Week: 1
Weekly Record: 2-0-1
The Stars went 1-for-3 on the power play in Wednesday’s overtime win against Milwaukee before falling in the extra period against the Aeros on Saturday. Brenden Dillon had Texas’ only goal in the loss.
On Sunday, Texas topped Peoria 4-1, with Matt Fraser and Reilly Smith each scoring twice to power the offense.
Upcoming Schedule: Friday and Saturday at Abbotsford
4. Albany Devils
Last Week: 15
Weekly Record: 2-0
The Devils make their first appearance in the top 10 after beating Bridgeport 3-1 on Saturday. Chad Wiseman and Joe Whitney each had two points. On Sunday, Albany shut out Connecticut behind a Whitney goal and a 30-save outing from Keith Kinkaid.
Keith Kinkaid had 30 saves as the Devils shut out the Whale and won their third straight game on Sunday. (Michael Gwizdala/The Hockey Writers)
Albany is not considered a threat by any means, but the Devils are now on a three-game winning streak.
Upcoming Schedule: Wednesday vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Friday at Connecticut, Saturday vs. Providence
3. Peoria Rivermen
Last Week: 26
Weekly Record: 2-1
Peoria had a goal on three power-play tries to defeat Grand Rapids on Wednesday, but lost to Texas on Saturday. Jaden Schwartz had the only goal, while Jake Allen made 39 saves in net.
The Rivermen earned a top-three ranking by finishing off the week with a win over Houston on Sunday. Three players had two points, and the team scored on its only power-play chance.
Upcoming Schedule: Tuesday at Oklahoma City, Friday at Grand Rapids, Saturday vs. Milwaukee
2. Providence Bruins
Last Week: 3
Weekly Record: 3-0
The Bruins stay in the top three after a perfect week. Kyle MacKinnon had two goals in Friday’s win over the Monarchs, and on Saturday, the Bruins needed just one shootout goal from Maxime Sauve to seal the deal against Worcester. Finally, on Sunday, Jamie Tardif had two goals to help Providence beat Adirondack in overtime.
Upcoming Schedule: Friday vs. Springfield, Saturday at Albany, Sunday vs. St. John’s
1. San Antonio Rampage
Last Week: 6
Weekly Record: 4-0
Everything is bigger in Texas, and that includes the Rampage’s record this week. Not only did they dethrone intrastate rivals the Stars, they are also the first team to take the top spot after a 4-0 week.
It started with a sweep of the Heat on Tuesday and Wednesday. Quinton Howden had two goals on Wednesday, and Jacob Markstrom made 36 saves to earn the shutout.
Then, San Antonio moved on to a powerful Oklahoma City and won two more games. Scott Timmins had two goals on Saturday, while on Sunday, Markstrom pitched his second 36-save outing and three players had two points. Markstrom was named AHL Player of the Week for his performance.
Jacob Markstrom had two wins in a 4-0 week for San Antonio to be named AHL Player of the Week. (Ross Bonander/THW)
Upcoming Schedule: Tuesday at Houston, Friday and Saturday at Oklahoma City, Sunday vs. Charlotte
