Previewing The 2022 Calder Cup Playoffs: Pacific Division
While the Pacific Division had the only "playoffs" in the 2020-21 pandemic-shortened campaign, the Calder Cup Playoffs - and this year's extended playoff format - is a whole new animal for these teams to try and conquer.
Based off points percentage, the Pacific Division finished the year with five of the top 10 most winning teams in the entire AHL - which surely leads one to believe there will be several tough tests for whichever team makes it out of the division and onto the Western Conference Finals in a few weeks.
1. Stockton Heat (Calgary)
Regular Season: 45-16-7
Case For
Well rounded team. Solid goaltending, defense and can put the puck in the net. Will be well rested as they have a first round bye.
Case Against
Heat finished the regular season 4-4-1-1, with a pair of losses to Bakersfield and Henderson and an OTL to Abbotsford. Rust from sitting out first round?
2. Ontario Reign (Los Angeles)
Regular Season: 41-18-9
Case For
The ability to score. Deadly power play, tops in the league at 27.5 percent. Also led the league in goals per game at 3.81. All 3 games on home ice in the first round.
Case Against
Yielded 15 goals in the final three regular-season games (two vs. Colorado and one vs, Henderson). Had a 3.22 goals-against per game average for the season, 25th in the league.
3. Colorado Eagles (Colorado)
Regular Season: 39-22-7
Case For
Well rested. The Eagles last played on April 23. Potent offensive with two 30-goal scorers and eight others with 10 or more. All 3 games on home ice in the first round.
Case Against
Possible rust in a short series. Goaltending tends to be porous. Penalty kill only 76.5 percent.
4. Bakersfield Condors (Edmonton)
Regular Season: 37-21-10
Case For
Structure, which makes them a tough out on any given night. Balanced scoring led by Seth Griffith’s 80 points (30 goals). Experienced and solid goaltending. All games in first round best-of-three are on home ice.
Case Against
Four of top 6 defense is out (3 injuries, 1 call up). Offense can run hot and cold. Lost last two home games against Abbotsford. Is it in their heads?
5. Abbotsford Canucks (Vancouver)
Case For
Went 8-2 to finish the season and has six players back from Vancouver. The most loaded Pacific Division team from goaltender out.
Case Against
The penalty kill was just 80.3 percent during the regular season. Being on the road for all three of their first round games.
6. Henderson Silver Knights (Vegas)
Regular Season: 35-28-5
Case For
After a mid-season stumble, the Silver Knights finished strong at 8-1-1. Got a couple of players back from Las Vegas.
Case Against
Playing all first-round games in a tough barn against a tough team. Give up a lot of shots.
7. San Diego Gulls (Anaheim)
*Regular Season: 28-33-7
Case For
They are in the playoffs, short series so anything can happen.
Got four players sent down from Anaheim - defensemen Simon Benoit and Trevor Carrick and forwards Hunter Drew and Buddy Robinson in addition to forward Olen Zellweger (2021-2nd round pick) on an amateur tryout. Zellweger is a WHL Player of the Year Finalist.
Case Against
Last win against a Pacific Division playoff team was March 26. Allowed 26 more goals than they scored. Generated the fewest shots on goal in league.
Story Edited by Tony Androckitis
