Given the current battered state of the team’s roster, the fact that there are various methods for outlining the American Hockey League standings (points or points-percentage), and seeing as the league has changed its method for determining post-season berths, it might not be so obvious that the IceCaps are in a playoff position as they approach the halfway point of their season.
But they are … and solidly so.
Yeas, the IceCaps have lost two in a row, including a 6-2 setback at the hands of the Albany Devils Wednesday night. Neverthelss, the IceCaps will start today in third place in the AHL’s North Division.
The top four teams in each of the league’s four divisions will advance to the playoffs in mid-April. That’s a change from previous seasons, when it was the top eight finishers in the conference who advanced to the playoffs.
Then again, even if that old process remained in use, the IceCaps would be still be in a playoff position.
St. John’s is there because of a decent 6-3-2 run played out mostly on the road. And because it has done it despite being assailed by call-ups and injuries.
For example, St. John’s lineup on Wednesday was missing captain Max Friberg (flu), Charles Hudon (injured) and Chris Terry, Michael McCarron, Bobby Farnham, Ryan Johnston and Mark Barberio, all on recall to the parent Montreal Canadiens.
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There have been some hopeful happenings. Sven Andrighetto, the team’s second-leading scorer, rejoined the IceCaps in Albany after being sent down from Montreal, as did the hobbled Hudon, although he is not expected to be cleared to play until sometime during St. John’s eight-game homestand, which begins Jan. 13.
And veteran goaltender Yann Danis also is back with the team after extended holiday time with his young family, which grew with the birth of his daughter on Dec. 30.
The team and fans might also be counting on the eventual return of injured players in Montreal bumping others back to the IceCaps, although even full-health status for the Canadiens might not enough to guarantee the returns of Terry, who remains St. John’s leading point-getter, or top defencemen Barberio, who both would need to clear waivers in order to get through to the AHL.
Notes
St. John’s trailed from 74 seconds into Wednesday’s contest when veteran centre Carter Camper scored for Albany. The IceCaps did get the score to 2-1 after Nikita Scherbak scored in the second period, but the Devils — who sit second in the North Division — had four goals in the middle frame to seal the deal … Rookie goalie Charlie Lindgen made his fifth straight start for the IceCaps, but was replaced by Danis in the second period after giving up five goals on 16 shots … The Devils outshout St. John’s 32-22, went two-for-four on the power play and killed off all three St. John’s man-advantage opportunities …. Scherbak’s goal was his 10th of the season, tying him for the team lead with Hudon and Terry … Brett Lernout, who got the other tally for his first goal of the season, was the choice as the hardest-working IceCap … St. John’s finishes off its length time on the road with games in Binghamton Friday and Utica on Saturday …
