1995 Calder Cup playoffs

The 1995 Calder Cup Playoffs of the American Hockey League began on April 12, 1995.[1] The twelve teams that qualified, four from each division, played best-of-7 series for division semifinals and division finals. The highest remaining seed received a bye for the third round while the other two remaining teams played a best-of-3 series series, with the winner advancing to play the bye-team in a best-of-7 series for the Calder Cup. The Calder Cup Final ended on May 26, 1995 with the Albany River Rats defeating the Fredericton Canadiens four games to zero to win the first Calder Cup in team history.[2] Albany's Corey Schwab and Mike Dunham were co-winners of the Jack A. Butterfield Trophy as AHL playoff co-MVPs.[3] Coincidentally, the River Rats parent club, the New Jersey Devils won the Stanley Cup in a four game sweep over the Detroit Red Wings, making them the second pair of teams in history to win both the AHL's Calder Cup and NHL's Stanley Cup in the same season.

The Southern Division semifinal between Cornwall and Hershey was a penalty filled series. The two teams combined for 575 penalty minutes in the series, an AHL record. Hershey's 323 penalty minutes in that series set another AHL playoff record for most penalty minutes by one team in one series. Furthermore, Hershey set yet another AHL playoff record by accumulating 186 penalty minutes in game 5 of the series, the most by one team in one playoff game.[4]

Playoff seeds

After the 1994-95 AHL regular season, 12 teams qualified for the playoffs. The top four teams from each division qualified for the playoffs. The Albany River Rats finished the regular season with the best overall record.[5]

Atlantic Division

  1. Prince Edward Island Senators - 90 points
  2. St. John's Maple Leafs - 76 points
  3. Fredericton Canadiens - 75 points
  4. Saint John Flames - 67 points

Northern Division

  1. Albany River Rats - 109 points
  2. Portland Pirates - 104 points
  3. Providence Bruins - 89 points
  4. Adirondack Red Wings - 74 points

Southern Division

  1. Binghamton Rangers - 93 points
  2. Cornwall Aces - 85 points
  3. Hershey Bears - 78 points
  4. Rochester Americans - 77 points

Bracket

  Division Semifinals Division Finals Semifinal Calder Cup Final
                                     
A1  P.E.I. 4  
A4  Saint John 1  
  A1  P.E.I. 2  
Atlantic Division
  A3  Fredericton 4  
A2  St. John's 1
A3  Fredericton 4  
   BYE  
  N1  Albany  
N1  Albany 4  
N4  Adirondack 0  
  N1  Albany 4     N1  Albany 4
Northern Division
  N3  Providence 2       A3  Fredericton 0  
N2  Portland 3
N3  Providence 4  
  S2  Cornwall 0  
  A3  Fredericton 2  
S1  Binghamton 4  
S4  Rochester 1  
  S1  Binghamton 2  
Southern Division
  S2  Cornwall 4  
S2  Cornwall 4
S3  Hershey 2  

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. For the Calder Cup Semifinal round, the team that earned the most points during the regular season out of the three remaining teams receives a bye directly to the Calder Cup Final. There is no set series format due to arena scheduling conflicts and travel considerations. [6]

Division Semifinals

Note 1: Home team is listed first.
Note 2: The number of overtime periods played (where applicable) is not specified

Atlantic Division

(A1) Prince Edward Island Senators vs. (A4) Saint John Flames

Prince Edward Island won series 4 – 1

(A2) St. John's Maple Leafs vs. (A3) Fredericton Canadiens

Fredericton won series 4 - 1

Northern Division

(N1) Albany River Rats vs. (N4) Adirondack Red Wings

Albany won series 4 – 0

(N2) Portland Pirates vs. (N3) Providence Bruins

Providence won series 4 - 3

Southern Division

(S1) Binghamton Rangers vs. (S4) Rochester Americans

Binghamton won series 4 - 1

(S2) Cornwall Aces vs. (S3) Hershey Bears

Cornwall won series 4 - 2

Division Finals

Atlantic Division

(A1) Prince Edward Island Senators vs. (A3) Fredericton Canadiens

Fredericton won series 4 - 2

Northern Division

(N1) Albany River Rats vs. (N3) Providence Bruins

Albany won series 4 - 2

Southern Division

(S1) Binghamton Rangers vs. (S2) Cornwall Aces

Cornwall won series 4 - 2

Semifinal

Bye

(S2) Cornwall Aces vs. (A3) Fredericton Canadiens

Fredericton won series 2 - 0

Calder Cup Final

(N1) Albany River Rats vs. (A3) Fredericton Canadiens

Albany won series 4 - 0

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1995 AHL playoff results The Internet Hockey Database. Retrieved on May 4, 2008.
  2. ↑ River Rats Fan Zone: History albanyriverrats.com. Retrieved on May 4, 2008.
  3. ↑ Jack A. Butterfield Trophy ahlhalloffame.com. Retrieved on May 6, 2008
  4. ↑ Calder Cup record book: Teams caldercup.com. Retrieved on May 6, 2008.
  5. ↑ 1994-95 AHL standings The Internet Hockey Database. Retrieved on May 4, 2008.
  6. ↑ Frequently asked questions theahl.com. Retrieved on May 12, 2008.
Preceded by
1994 Calder Cup playoffs		 Calder Cup playoffs
1995 		Succeeded by
1996 Calder Cup playoffs