Providence Bruins Claim No. 1 in AHL Power Rankings, Ending Griffins' Long Reign

After four-and-a-half months, a new team stood atop the FloHockey AHL Power Rankings. The Providence Bruins climbed to No. 1 in the March 18 edition, ending the Grand Rapids Griffins' 19-week run at the top that had begun November 4.

The Griffins did not simply fade — they were pulled apart. Roster moves have taken a toll on Grand Rapids lately, between the constant shuffling of players to and from Detroit and a pair of trades that stripped the team of experienced defensemen Justin Holl and Ian Mitchell. The losses left a blue line that once anchored one of the AHL's best teams noticeably thinner heading into the final stretch of the regular season.

Despite the shuffling at the top of the rankings, both Providence and Grand Rapids remain locked in a race that extends well beyond the standings. Both teams have 14 games remaining and would need to reach 112 points to surpass the AHL's all-time season point percentage record, the .775 mark set by the Binghamton Rangers in 1992-93. That benchmark has stood for 33 years. The P-Bruins, sitting at 91 points, need to play .750 hockey the rest of the way to get there. Grand Rapids, one point back at 90, faces a steeper climb and must play at a .786 clip down the stretch.

The schedules ahead will test both clubs immediately. Providence headed into a three-game week that included a road visit to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms on Wednesday, a stop at Utica on Friday, and a return home Saturday against the Comets. Grand Rapids faced a harder road trip: a three-in-three weekend, all away from home, beginning Friday at Rockford.

The Ontario Reign held the third spot in the rankings, unchanged from the prior week. Further down, the Belleville Senators made the biggest move in the bottom half, jumping three spots to No. 22, while the Hershey Bears tumbled four positions to No. 25 and the Bridgeport Islanders dropped three to No. 26. The Rockford IceHogs climbed three spots to No. 29.

With the AHL regular season scheduled to close April 19, the window to catch Binghamton's 33-year-old mark is narrow. Whether Providence can hold off Grand Rapids in the rankings and whether either team can sustain the historic pace required to rewrite the record books will define the final weeks of a remarkable regular season.