Calder Cup Playoff Stock Report: Henderson, Manitoba Ready To Make Noise?

The Calder Cup Playoffs are down to 16 teams. Now the season’s movers and shakers move into action. The regular-season champion Providence Bruins will begin their postseason following a 13-day break.

The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins get down to work in an I-81 clash with their long-time rival, the Hershey Bears. For an Original Six feel, AHL-style, the Laval Rocket and Toronto Marlies will meet; it will be the first postseason battle between AHL affiliates of the Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs since 2001. Like Providence, the Grand Rapids Griffins have had a lengthy break.

They finished second overall in the regular season. In the Pacific Division, the Ontario Reign face the Coachella Valley Firebirds in a Southern California battle. Two offensively dangerous clubs in the Colorado Eagles and Henderson Silver Knights will also face each other.

Let’s examine who is rising, holding, and falling among the remaining 16 Calder Cup Playoff teams. Rising Henderson Silver Knights Bill McDougall’s 1993 postseason run with the Cape Breton Oilers. McDougall produced an unfathomable 26-26-52 – AHL postseason records in all three categories – in only 16 games to lead the Oilers to the Calder Cup.