AHL standings outlook, clinching scenarios and teams to watch updated Feb. 23

PLAYOFF PRIMER NOW AVAILABLE: With the league-leading Grand Rapids Griffins now in position to become the first team to officially qualify for the 2026 Calder Cup Playoffs, the AHL has published its Playoff Primer. The primer was originally compiled Feb. 19 and the AHL primer page shows Last update: Feb. 23, 1:30 pm ET; it combines the league’s standings outlook, outlined clinching scenarios and highlighted teams in danger of sliding out of contention as the season approaches the final stretch before the Calder Cup race.

The AHL will continue to use the same playoff format used since 2022. The playoff field will include the top six finishers in the eight-team Atlantic Division, the top five finishers each in the seven-team North and Central Divisions, and the top seven teams in the 10-team Pacific Division. First Round match-ups will be best-of-three series; the two highest seeds in the Atlantic, the three highest seeds in each of the North and Central, and the first-place team in the Pacific will receive byes into the best-of-five Division Semifinals, with the First Round winners re-seeded in each division. The Division Finals will also be best-of-five series, followed by best-of-seven Conference Finals and a best-of-seven Calder Cup Finals series.

The regular season began Oct. 10, 2025 and will end Apr. 19, 2026, with the 2026 Calder Cup playoffs to follow the conclusion of the regular season. The primer’s timing matters because teams are now jockeying for the byes and short first-round series that can change postseason trajectories.

The AHL primer page reproduces divisional rosters. The Atlantic Division list appears twice on the page and includes Bridgeport IslandersBridgeport Islanders, Charlotte Checkers, Hartford Wolf Pack, Hershey Bears, Lehigh Valley Phantoms, Providence Bruins, Springfield Thunderbirds and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. The North Division list appears twice and includes Belleville Senators, Cleveland Monsters, Laval Rocket, Rochester Americans, Syracuse Crunch, Toronto Marlies and Utica Comets. The Central Division list appears twice and includes Chicago Wolves, Grand Rapids Griffins, Iowa Wild, Manitoba Moose, Milwaukee Admirals, Rockford IceHogs and Texas Stars. The Pacific Division list appears twice and features a 10-team roster: Abbotsford Canucks, Bakersfield Condors, Calgary Wranglers, Coachella Valley Firebirds, Colorado Eagles, Henderson Silver Knights, Ontario Reign, San Diego Gulls, San Jose Barracuda and Tucson Roadrunners.

Hershey’s weekly release uses the primer to show concrete clinch math: “With 22 games remaining, the Bears will require a combination of 37 points either earned by their performance or lost by the team with the highest possible total outside of the playoff picture in order to qualify for the 2026 postseason.” The Bears’ Feb. 23 update also notes: “FEBRUARY LEADERS: The Bears have gone 2-5-1-0 in the month of February, and Ivan Miroshnichenko leads the team in scoring with seven points (3g, 4a). Miroshnichenko shares the team goal-scoring lead with Henrik Rybinski and Graeme Clarke, while Brett Leason is pacing the club with five assists and 26 shots on goal.” Hershey’s last game line shows Hershey Bears 1-3-0 by period, Final 4, and Lehigh Valley Phantoms 3-2-1 by period, Final 6. The Bears continue the 2025-26 season, presented by Penn State Health, closing a three-game homestand Wednesday with Utica Comets’ lone visit to Chocolatetown, then traveling to Rockford for two games against the IceHogs before returning to host rescheduled games against the Charlotte Checkers.

Goaltender leaders in the league snapshot include Michael DiPietro, Providence Bruins, GP 28, TOI 1,614:08, SA 765, GA 44, SO 1, GAA 1.64, SV% .942, W 21, L 5, OT 0; Sebastian Cossa, Grand Rapids Griffins, GP 27, TOI 1,595:01, SA 732, GA 51, SO 5, GAA 1.92, SV% .930, W 21, L 4, OT 2; Sergei Murashov, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, GP 26, TOI 1,432:17, SA 663, GA 53, SO 2, GAA 2.22, SV% .920, W 18, L 6, OT 1; Jacob Fowler, Laval Rocket, GP 26, TOI 1,557:44, SA 680, GA 58, SO 3, GAA 2.23, SV% .915, W 18, L 7, OT 1; Brandon Halverson, Syracuse Crunch, GP 26, TOI 1,530:32, SA 632, GA 59, SO 4, GAA 2.31, SV% .907, W 16, L 6, OT 3; Cayden Primeau, Chicago Wolves, GP 21, TOI 1,278:50, SA 641, GA 53, SO 1, GAA 2.49, SV% .917, W 12, L 4, OT 5.

The AHL page also flags recent video recaps Reign vs. Roadrunners | Feb. 22, 2026, Gulls vs. IceHogs | Feb. 22, 2026 and Wild vs. Moose | Feb. 22, 2026, and shows site elements such as DOWNLOAD TODAY’S PRIMER (PDF), AHL On The Beat, Patrick Williams archive and a Facebook Pixel tracking image. As teams chase byes and short-series advantage, the primer updated Feb. 23, 1:30 pm ET provides the clinching scenarios and divisional maps that will shape the Calder Cup race heading into April.