- 1997 Calder Cup Playoffs
The 1997 Calder Cup Playoffs of the
American Hockey League began onApril 18 ,1997 . [http://www.caldercup.com/pagebank/index.html?id=2143 1997 Calder Cup Playoffs] "caldercup.com". Retrieved onMay 2 ,2008 .] The sixteen teams that qualified, eight from each conference, played best-of-5 series for division semifinals and best-of-7 series for division finals and conference finals. The conference champions played a best-of-7 series for theCalder Cup . The Calder Cup Final ended onJune 13 ,1997 , with theHershey Bears defeating theHamilton Bulldogs four games to one to win the eighth Calder Cup in team history. [ [http://www.theahl.com/news/caldercup/index.html?article_id=5230 Calder Cup Finals open tonight] , "caldercup.com",June 2 ,2006 . Retrieved onMay 2 ,2008 .] Hershey'sMike McHugh won theJack A. Butterfield Trophy as AHL playoffMVP . [ [http://www.ahlhalloffame.com/pagebank/index.html?id=146 Jack A. Butterfield Trophy] "ahlhalloffame.com". Retrieved onMay 6 ,2008 .]Hershey set an AHL playoff record by scoring 35 powerplay goals during the 1997 Calder Cup playoffs. Furthermore, Game 2 of the Mid-Atlantic Division final between Hershey and Philadelphia set an AHL playoff record for the most penalty minutes in one game by both teams with 350 (Hershey, 179; Philadelphia, 171). [ [http://www.caldercup.com/cup/teamrec/ Calder Cup record book: Teams] "caldercup.com". Retrieved on
May 6 ,2008 .] In addition, Hershey's Jean-Francois Labbe set an AHL playoff record for goaltenders by playing in 23 games in one playoff. [ [http://www.caldercup.com/cup/individual/ Calder Cup record book: Players] "caldercup.com". Retrieved onMay 6 ,2008 .]Playoff seeds
After the 1996-97 AHL regular season, 16 teams qualified for the playoffs. The top four teams from each division qualified for the playoffs. However, due to the uneven number of teams in the each conference, it was possible for the fifth-placed team in the five team divisions to crossover to the playoffs for the four team divisions. This could only happen if the fifth-placed team in a five team division earned more points than the fourth-placed team in the four team division in the same conference. In this case, the fifth-placed team from the five team division would play in place of the fourth-placed team from the four team division in that part of the playoff bracket. The
Philadelphia Phantoms were the Southern Conference regular season champions and also had the best overall regular season record. TheRochester Americans were the Northern Conference regular season champions. [ [http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/leagues/seasons/ahl19411997.html 1996-97 AHL Standings] "The Internet Hockey Database". Retrieved onMay 2 ,2008 .]Northern Conference
Canadian Division
#
St. John's Maple Leafs - 88 points
#Saint John Flames - 72 points
#Hamilton Bulldogs - 69 pointsEmpire State Division
#
Rochester Americans - Northern Conference regular season champions, 90 points
#Adirondack Red Wings - 90 points
#Albany River Rats - 90 points
#Syracuse Crunch - 74 points
#Binghamton Rangers - 69 points "(Played in the Canadian Division bracket by virtue of earning more points than the fourth-placed team in that division)"outhern Conference
New England Division
#
Worcester IceCats - 100 points
#Springfield Falcons - 96 points
#Portland Pirates - 91 points
#Providence Bruins - 75 pointsMid-Atlantic Division
#
Philadelphia Phantoms - Southern Conference regular season champions; Best overall regular season record, 111 points
#Hershey Bears - 101 points
#Kentucky Thoroughblades - 81 points
#Baltimore Bandits - 73 pointsBracket
16TeamBracket | RD1=Division Semifinals
RD2=Division Finals
RD3=Conference Finals
RD4=Calder Cup Final
group1=Northern Conference
group2=Southern Conference
subgroup1=Canadian Division
subgroup2=Empire State Division
subgroup3=New England Division
subgroup4=Mid-Atlantic DivisionRD1-seed01=C1
RD1-team01=St. John's
RD1-seed02=E5
RD1-team02=Binghamton
RD1-score01=3
RD1-score02=1RD1-seed03=C2
RD1-team03=Saint John
RD1-seed04=C3
RD1-team04=Hamilton
RD1-score03=2
RD1-score04=3RD1-seed05=E1
RD1-team05=Rochester
RD1-seed06=E4
RD1-team06=Syracuse
RD1-score05=3
RD1-score06=0RD1-seed07=E2
RD1-team07=Adirondack
RD1-seed08=E3
RD1-team08=Albany
RD1-score07=1
RD1-score08=3RD1-seed09=N1
RD1-team09=Worcester
RD1-seed10=N4
RD1-team10=Providence
RD1-score09=2
RD1-score10=3RD1-seed11=N2
RD1-team11=Springfield
RD1-seed12=N3
RD1-team12=Portland
RD1-score11=3
RD1-score12=2RD1-seed13=M1
RD1-team13=Philadelphia
RD1-seed14=M4
RD1-team14=Baltimore
RD1-score13=3
RD1-score14=0RD1-seed15=M2
RD1-team15=Hershey
RD1-seed16=M3
RD1-team16=Kentucky
RD1-score15=3
RD1-score16=1RD2-seed01=C1
RD2-team01=St. John's
RD2-seed02=C3
RD2-team02=Hamilton
RD2-score01=3
RD2-score02=4RD2-seed03=E1
RD2-team03=Rochester
RD2-seed04=E3
RD2-team04=Albany
RD2-score03=3
RD2-score04=4RD2-seed05=N4
RD2-team05=Providence
RD2-seed06=N2
RD2-team06=Springfield
RD2-score05=1
RD2-score06=4RD2-seed07=M1
RD2-team07=Philadelphia
RD2-seed08=M2
RD2-team08=Hershey
RD2-score07=3
RD2-score08=4RD3-seed01=C3
RD3-team01=Hamilton
RD3-seed02=E3
RD3-team02=Albany
RD3-score01=4
RD3-score02=1RD3-seed03=N2
RD3-team03=Springfield
RD3-seed04=M2
RD3-team04=Hershey
RD3-score03=3
RD3-score04=4RD4-seed01=C3
RD4-team01=Hamilton
RD4-seed02=M2
RD4-team02=Hershey
RD4-score01=1
RD4-score02=4In 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. [ [http://www.theahl.com/theahl/faqs/ Frequently asked questions] "theahl.com". Retrieved onMay 12 ,2008 .]Division Semifinals
:Note 1: "All times are in Eastern Time (
UTC-4 ).":Note 2: "Game times in italics signify games to be played only if necessary.":Note 3: "Home team is listed first."Northern Conference
Canadian Division
(C1) St. John's Maple Leafs vs. (E5) Binghamton Rangers
NHLPlayoffs
team1=St. John's Maple Leafs
team2=Binghamton Rangers
stadium1=Memorial Stadium
stadium2=Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena
date1=April 18
score1=5 - 2
won1=1
date2=April 20
score2=2 - 3
won2=2
date3=April 23
score3=2 - 3
won3=1
date4=April 25
score4=2 - 4
won4=1
series=St. John's won series 3 – 1(C2) Saint John Flames vs. (C3) Hamilton Bulldogs
NHLPlayoffs
team1=Saint John Flames
team2=Hamilton Bulldogs
stadium1=Harbour Station
stadium2=Copps Coliseum
date1=April 18
score1=4 - 5
won1=2
date2=April 20
score2=3 - 2
won2=1
date3=April 23
score3=2 - 1
won3=2
date4=April 25
score4=4 - 5
ot4=OT
won4=1
date5=April 28
score5=1 - 3
won5=2
series=Hamilton won series 3 - 2Empire State Division
(E1) Rochester Americans vs. (E4) Syracuse Crunch
NHLPlayoffs
team1=Rochester Americans
team2=Syracuse Crunch
stadium1=Rochester Community War Memorial
stadium2=Onondaga War Memorial
date1=April 18
score1=7 - 4
won1=1
date2=April 19
score2=6 - 2
won2=1
date3=April 23
score3=2 - 3
won3=1
series=Rochester won series 3 – 0(E2) Adirondack Red Wings vs. (E3) Albany River Rats
NHLPlayoffs
team1=Adirondack Red Wings
team2=Albany River Rats
stadium1=Glens Falls Civic Center
stadium2=Pepsi Arena
date1=April 19
home1=2
score1=2 - 0
won1=2
date2=April 20
home2=2
score2=2 - 3
won2=1
date3=April 22
home3=1
score3=7 - 3
won3=1
date4=April 24
home4=1
score4=4 - 1
won4=1
series=Albany won series 3 - 1Southern Conference
New England Division
(N1) Worcester IceCats vs. (N4) Providence Bruins
NHLPlayoffs
team1=Worcester IceCats
team2=Providence Bruins
stadium1=Worcester Centrum
stadium2=Providence Civic Center
date1=April 18
score1=5 - 4
won1=1
date2=April 19
home2=2
score2=4 - 5
won2=1
date3=April 23
home3=1
score3=2 - 4
won3=2
date4=April 24
score4=5 - 4
ot4=2OT
won4=2
date5=April 26
score5=2 - 3
won5=2
series=Providence won series 3 - 2(N2) Springfield Falcons vs. (N3) Portland Pirates
NHLPlayoffs
team1=Springfield Falcons
team2=Portland Pirates
stadium1=Springfield Civic Center
stadium2=Cumberland County Civic Center
date1=April 18
score1=3 - 4
won1=2
date2=April 19
home2=2
score2=5 - 2
won2=2
date3=April 23
home3=1
score3=3 - 2
ot3=OT
won3=1
date4=April 26
score4=3 - 4
won4=1
date5=May 27
score5=1 - 0
ot5=OT
won5=1
series=Springfield won series 3 - 2Mid-Atlantic Division
(M1) Philadelphia Phantoms vs. (M4) Baltimore Bandits
NHLPlayoffs
team1=Philadelphia Phantoms
team2=Baltimore Bandits
stadium1=CoreStates Center
stadium2=Baltimore Arena
date1=April 19
score1=4 - 2
won1=1
date2=April 20
score2=7 - 1
won2=1
date3=April 23
score3=2 - 4
won3=1
series=Philadelphia won series 3 - 0(M2) Hershey Bears vs. (M3) Kentucky Thoroughblades
NHLPlayoffs
team1=Hershey Bears
team2=Kentucky Thoroughblades
stadium1=Hersheypark Arena
stadium2=Rupp Arena
date1=April 18
score1=4 - 3
ot1=2OT
won1=1
date2=April 21
score2=3 - 0
won2=1
date3=April 23
score3=4 - 2
won3=2
date4=April 25
score4=2 - 5
won4=1
series=Hershey won series 3 - 1Division Finals
Northern Conference
Canadian Division
(C1) St. John's Maple Leafs vs. (C3) Hamilton Bulldogs
NHLPlayoffs
team1=St. John's Maple Leafs
team2=Hamilton Bulldogs
stadium1=Memorial Stadium
stadium2=Copps Coliseum
date1=May 1
home1=2
score1=3 - 2
won1=2
date2=May 3
home2=2
score2=2 - 4
won2=1
date3=May 5
home3=1
score3=3 - 1
won3=1
date4=May 7
home4=1
score4=3 - 4
won4=2
date5=May 9
score5=5 - 2
won5=1
date6=May 11
score6=4 - 3
ot6=OT
won6=2
date7=May 13
score7=0 - 3
won7=2
series=Hamilton won series 4 - 3Empire State Division
(E1) Rochester Americans vs. (E3) Albany River Rats
NHLPlayoffs
team1=Rochester Americans
team2=Albany River Rats
stadium1=Rochester Community War Memorial
stadium2=Pepsi Arena
date1=April 30
score1=2 -3
ot1=OT
won1=2
date2=May 2
score2=3 - 5
won2=2
date3=May 4
score3=2 - 5
won3=1
date4=May 7
score4=3 - 2
ot4=OT
won4=2
date5=May 9
score5=4 - 2
won5=1
date6=May 11
score6=2 - 6
won6=1
date7=May 14
score7=2 - 6
won7=2
series=Albany won series 4 - 3outhern Conference
New England Division
(N2) Springfield Falcons vs. (N4) Providence Bruins
NHLPlayoffs
team1=Springfield Falcons
team2=Providence Bruins
stadium1=Springfield Civic Center
stadium2=Providence Civic Center
date1=May 2
score1=4 - 1
won1=1
date2=May 3
score2=2 - 0
won2=1
date3=May 6
score3=3 - 4
ot3=OT
won3=1
date4=May 9
score4=2 - 1
won4=2
date5=May 10
score5=3 - 1
won5=1
series=Springfield won series 4 - 1Mid-Atlantic Division
(M1) Philadelphia Phantoms vs. (M2) Hershey Bears
NHLPlayoffs
team1=Philadelphia Phantoms
team2=Hershey Bears
stadium1=CoreStates Spectrum
stadium2=Hersheypark Arena
date1=May 1
score1=3 - 5
won1=2
date2=May 3
score2=7 - 4
won2=1
date3=May 4
score3=4 - 2
won3=2
date4=May 7
score4=2 - 3
ot4=OT
won4=1
date5=May 10
score5=3 - 0
won5=1
date6=May 11
score6=3 - 2
ot6=3OT
won6=2
date7=May 14
score7=2 - 3
won7=2
series=Hershey won series 4 - 3Conference Finals
Northern Conference
(E3) Albany River Rats vs. (C3) Hamilton Bulldogs
NHLPlayoffs
team1=Albany River Rats
team2=Hamilton Bulldogs
stadium1=Pepsi Arena
stadium2=Copps Coliseum
date1=May 17
score1=1 - 2
ot1=OT
won1=2
date2=May 20
score2=3 - 4
won2=2
date3=May 23
score3=2 - 0
won3=2
date4=May 25
score4=3 - 5
won4=1
date5=May 27
home5=2
score5=7 - 3
won5=2
series=Hamilton won series 4 - 1outhern Conference
(M2) Hershey Bears vs. (N2) Springfield Falcons
NHLPlayoffs
team1=Hershey Bears
team2=Springfield Falcons
stadium1=Hersheypark Arena
stadium2=Springfield Civic Center
date1=May 18
score1=2 - 6
won1=2
date2=May 19
score2=3 - 5
won2=2
date3=May 21
score3=3 - 4
ot3=OT
won3=1
date4=May 23
score4=4 - 3
won4=2
date5=May 24
home5=2
score5=1 - 4
won5=1
date6=May 29
home6=1
score6=4 - 1
won6=1
date7=May 31
score7=3 - 1
won7=1
series=Hershey won series 4 - 3Calder Cup Final
(M2) Hershey Bears vs. (C3) Hamilton Bulldogs
NHLPlayoffs
team1=Hershey Bears
team2=Hamilton Bulldogs
stadium1=Hersheypark Arena
stadium2=Copps Coliseum
date1=June 4
score1=4 - 2
won1=1
date2=June 7
score2=6 - 4
ot2=OT
won2=1
date3=June 9
score3=2 - 1
won3=2
date4=June 11
score4=2 - 4
won4=1
date5=June 13
home5=2
score5=1 - 4
won5=1
series=Hershey won series 4 - 1ee also
*
1996–97 AHL season
*List of AHL seasons References
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