Hey everyone! I'm in Allentown for the second-to-last weekend of the AHL regular season, so here are some thoughts on my mind heading into the weekend.

- Bridgeport can clinch a playoff spot with a win on Saturday over Lehigh Valley. What a story they've become! They were the worst team in the AHL last season and had a historically bad season. Now, they can not only clinch a playoff spot but host playoff games if they keep up the hot streak.

- Wilkes-Barre Scranton can clinch a first round bye with a win and a Charlotte loss this weekend. They'll have their hands full as they host Cleveland and Charlotte hosts a back-to-back against Hershey. However, it's likely they'll sit in the second spot by season's end. 

- Laval and Syracuse are in a fight for the top spot in the North Division with only four games to go. Laval has a two-point cushion, and they have a back-to-back against Belleville while Syracuse faces Utica. So, it's all about which team falls into a trap game. 

- Rochester only needs three points to clinch the final spot in the North. They'll face Springfield and Providence this weekend. 

- Ontario has a two-point cushion over Colorado for the top spot in the Pacific Division. Ontario has a back-to-back against Coachella Valley while Colorado has a back-to-back against Tucson. So, this might be where teams flip in the standings.

- One general thought I had while watching the Frozen Four was about the Denver head coach, David Carle. I know a lot of people are high on him as an NHL head coach but watching the AHL closely, it always gives me hesitation to hire a college background coach with the big issue being control, which he won't have in the AHL or NHL.