It's getting dark.
That idea applies to several AHL teams a little more than two months into the regular season.
On Dec. 19 last season, the Bridgeport Islanders, Laval Rocket, Chicago Wolves, and Bakersfield Condors all finished last in their divisions. Of that quartet, only the Condors were able to rally to qualify for the Calder Cup Playoffs. Laval managed to stay in playoff contention until the final weekend of the regular season, but it took a good second half to bring the Rockets back into contention.
A year later, there are also teams that are off to a slow start and have put their seasons and postseason chances in jeopardy. This is bad news for them. The good news for these clubs is that the AHL's expanded 23-team playing field offers grace even to teams that got off to a bad start. And this is a league of streaks and deep head-to-head play between divisional opponents. Those two factors could make the team capable of doing well, especially with four months to go.
Just get into the postseason and anything can happen.
Bridgeport Islanders (5-17-2-2 – 14 points out of the playoffs and have one game in hand)
Maybe the Islanders would have something to build on after a rough start.
That thought made sense in mid-November when they visited Hershey and beat the defending Calder Cup champion, 6-1. The next night, they faced Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in a 5-2 loss. For a team that had opened its season with a 2-9-1-1 record, it was the kind of weekend that could change the season.
However, that has not happened yet. Since that weekend, the team has gone 1-8-1-1, putting their season in jeopardy. The calendar doesn't agree, either, not with a few games in Charlotte this weekend against a Checkers team that has been on a tear this month.
As usual, veteran Chris Terry was excellent; In his second start with Bridgeport, he is tied with Brian Pinho for 21 points. Pinho has scored 14 goals in 26 games after managing nine last season. But the team needs its opportunities to start producing. Matthew Maggio has one goal in 24 games after a 16-goal season. William Dufour, who had 21 goals as a rookie in 2022-23, has four of 23 contests this season.
Management has been busy, though. The team brought back defenseman Seth Helgeson and added veteran forward Gemel Smith.
Henderson Silver Knights (6-19-0-0 – 15 points in the playoffs with two games in hand)
On paper, the Silver Knights would appear to have it all.
A first-class stadium with a state-of-the-art training facility. Convenient proximity to their parent NHL club, the Vegas Golden Knights. That makes it easier for players to move around the team and for players who don't have to be shuffled to a remote location when sent to the AHL.
On the ice, however, victory does not come. The team has missed the Calder Cup Playoffs the past two seasons, and this campaign is already on shaky ground. In pursuit of the Stanley Cup, the Golden Knights had to give up top prospects and draft picks. Other selections failed. Defenseman Daniil Chayka, a 2021 second-round pick, left the organization for the KHL this month. Another football player, Lukas Cormier, has not played in the first two months of this season.
2024 Henderson Silver Knights vs Calgary Wranglers
With prospects and picks sent elsewhere, and a limited crop of prospects within the organization, the Silver Knights were unable to blossom with their youth. Their addition of veterans also hasn't found their games, either. The Silver Knights are also no longer in net, and all four hitters they've used have save percentages below .900.
They rallied briefly with a win at Coachella Valley and a home win against the Texas Stars to open December, but have been mired in an 11-game losing streak in their last 13 games. They also have a punishing slate ahead of them with two games each against Calgary (starting Friday), San Jose, and Ontario. And once January starts, they play nine of 11 on the road.
Manitoba Moose (6-16-0-1 – 10 points in the playoffs with two games in hand)
Thursday brought good news for the Moose as defenseman Dylan Coghlan cleared waivers, making him eligible to join the team if the Winnipeg Jets decide to take that route.
At one point, the Moose had a record of 3-3-0-0. It's not good, but it's definitely something that won't jeopardize their season. Even the 6-9-0-0 mark since November 23 has left the team with enough room to bounce back and get back into contention.
However, since then, the season has started to deteriorate. They dropped all four games of the homestand, managing just one point in a loss to Belleville on Dec. 7. Then they hit the road for four games and came out with four losses in regulation. A two-match visit to Abbotsford saw them locked out of both competitions. That stop followed a few games in Calgary, where the Moose allowed 12 goals.
Now the Moose have their own tough holiday home schedule. Kicking it off will be two games against the Rockford IceHogs. The Stars visit the Canada Life Center to wrap up the final two games of 2024. But after that vacation period at home, the Moose are back on the road with stops in Calgary, Milwaukee, and Grand Rapids as part of a tough January schedule.
At 2.26 goals per game, the Moose are 31st in the AHL. Their power play and penalty kill both sit in the bottom third of the AHL as well.
Utica Comets (6-14-1-2 – 14 points out of the playoff spot with three games in hand)
Opponents underestimated the Comets at their peril.
For a team that was winless in its first 13 games, the Comets have amassed an impressive list of victories. At one point in late November, they got two wins against Providence and one against Springfield, two AHL powerhouses in the third opener of the season. On Wednesday night they visited Cleveland and were able to win 3-2 after two goals from Adam Beckman and 28 saves from Isaac Poulter.
The problem is among those impressive cars there have been a lot of losses. After that 13-game slide to open the season, the Comets won their next five games. But since that win ended, they are now out of their next five matches. After a poor start, this team needs a steady run to get into contention. Utica's 2.13 goals per division last game in the AHL even though the team was able to get into the top 10, something that needs to change. Scoring help is badly needed.
They have the rest of this weekend off and don't resume playing until Dec. 27 when a home-and-home series with Rochester is on their schedule. That set up with the Amerks starting seven of 10 games on home ice, where the Comets are 1-7-0-2 so far.
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