1978 Calder Cup playoffs

The 1978 Calder Cup playoffs of the American Hockey League began on April 11, 1978.[1] The top three teams from each division qualified for the playoffs. The two division winners earned byes for the Division Semifinals while the other two teams in each division played best-of-five series. The winners played best-of-seven series with the team that received the first round bye in their division. The winners of each Division Final played a best-of-seven series for the Calder Cup. The Calder Cup Final ended on May 15, 1978 with the Maine Mariners defeating the New Haven Nighthawks four games to one to win the Calder Cup for the first time in team history.[2]

Playoff seeds

After the 1977–78 AHL regular season, the top three teams from each division qualified for the playoffs. The Maine Mariners finished the regular season with the best overall record.[3] The two division champions earned byes to the Division Finals.[1]

Northern Division

  1. Maine Mariners - 95 points
  2. Nova Scotia Voyageurs - 90 points
  3. Springfield Indians - 87 points

Southern Division

  1. Rochester Americans - 93 points
  2. New Haven Nighthawks - 87 points
  3. Philadelphia Firebirds - 81 points

Bracket

  Division Semifinals     Division Finals     Calder Cup Final
                           
  Northern Division     1  Maine 4  
  2  Nova Scotia 3     2  Nova Scotia 3    
  3  Springfield 1         N1  Maine 4
      S2  New Haven 1
  Southern Division     1  Rochester 2    
  2  New Haven 3     2  New Haven 4  
  3  Philadelphia 1  

In each round, the team that earned more points during the regular season receives home ice advantage, meaning they receive the "extra" game on home-ice if the series reaches the maximum number of games. There is no set series format due to arena scheduling conflicts and travel considerations.[4]

Division Semifinals

Note: Home team is listed first.

Byes

Northern Division

(2) Nova Scotia Voyageurs vs. (3) Springfield Indians

Nova Scotia won series 3 - 1

Southern Division

(2) New Haven Nighthawks vs. (3) Philadelphia Firebirds

New Haven won series 3 - 1

Division Finals

Northern Division

(1) Maine Mariners vs. (2) Nova Scotia Voyageurs

Maine won series 4 - 3

Southern Division

(1) Rochester Americans vs. (2) New Haven Nighthawks

New Haven won series 4 - 2

Calder Cup Final

(N1) Maine Mariners vs. (S2) New Haven Nighthawks

Maine won series 4 - 1

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1978 AHL playoff results The Internet Hockey Database. Retrieved on May 11, 2008.
  2. ↑ Calder Cup champions caldercup.com. Retrieved on May 11, 2008.
  3. ↑ 1977–78 AHL standings The Internet Hockey Database. Retrieved on May 11, 2008.
  4. ↑ Frequently asked questions theahl.com. Retrieved on May 12, 2008.
Preceded by
1977 Calder Cup playoffs		 Calder Cup playoffs
1978 		Succeeded by
1979 Calder Cup playoffs