1981 Calder Cup Playoffs

The 1981 Calder Cup Playoffs of the American Hockey League began on April 7, 1981. [http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/playoffdisplay.php3?league=ahl1941&season=1981&leaguenm=AHL 1981 AHL playoff results] "The Internet Hockey Database". Retrieved on May 10, 2008.] The eight teams that qualified played best-of-7 series for Division Semifinals and Division Finals. The division champions played a best-of-7 series for the Calder Cup. The Calder Cup Final ended on May 20, 1981 with the Adirondack Red Wings defeating the Maine Mariners four games to two to win the Calder Cup for the first time in team history. [ [http://www.caldercup.com/cup/past/ Calder Cup champions] "caldercup.com". Retrieved on May 10, 2008.]

Maine set an AHL record for the most goals allowed in one playoff with 81. [ [http://www.caldercup.com/cup/teamrec/ Calder Cup record book: Teams] "caldercup.com". Retrieved on May 10, 2008.] What makes this more notable is that the AHL playoffs now consist of four rounds of best-of-7 series, whereas Maine set this record in only 20 games--where the playoffs consisted of only three rounds of best-of-7 series. [ [http://www.caldercup.com/pagebank/index.html?id=378 2007 Calder Cup playoffs] "caldercup.com". Retrieved on May 10, 2008.]

Playoff seeds

After the 1980–81 AHL regular season, the top four teams from each division qualified for the playoffs. The Hershey Bears finished the regular season with the best overall record. [ [http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/leagues/seasons/ahl19411981.html 1980-81 AHL standings] "The Internet Hockey Database". Retrieved on May 10, 2008.]

Northern Division

#Maine Mariners - 97 points
#New Brunswick Hawks - 84 points
#Nova Scotia Voyageurs - 81 points
#Springfield Indians - 73 points

outhern Division

#Hershey Bears - 103 points
#Adirondack Red Wings - 75 points
#Binghamton Whalers - 70 points
#New Haven Nighthawks - 69 points

Bracket

8TeamBracket | RD1=Division Semifinals
RD2=Division Finals
RD3=Calder Cup Final
group1=Northern Division
group2=Southern Division

RD1-seed1=1
RD1-team1=Maine
RD1-score1=4
RD1-seed2=4
RD1-team2=Springfield
RD1-score2=3

RD1-seed3=2
RD1-team3=New Brunswick
RD1-score3=4
RD1-seed4=3
RD1-team4=Nova Scotia
RD1-score4=2

RD1-seed5=1
RD1-team5=Hershey
RD1-score5=4
RD1-seed6=4
RD1-team6=New Haven
RD1-score6=0

RD1-seed7=2
RD1-team7=Adirondack
RD1-score7=4
RD1-seed8=3
RD1-team8=Binghamton
RD1-score8=2

RD2-seed1=1
RD2-team1=Maine
RD2-score1=4
RD2-seed2=2
RD2-team2=New Brunswick
RD2-score2=3

RD2-seed3=1
RD2-team3=Hershey
RD2-score3=2
RD2-seed4=2
RD2-team4=Adirondack
RD2-score4=4

RD3-seed1=N1
RD3-team1=Maine
RD3-score1=2
RD3-seed2=S2
RD3-team2=Adirondack
RD3-score2=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 on May 12, 2008.]

Division Semifinals

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

Northern Division

(1) Maine Mariners vs. (4) Springfield Indians

NHLPlayoffs
team1=Maine Mariners
team2=Springfield Indians
date1=April 8
score1=3 - 1
won1=1
date2=April 10
score2=7 - 2
won2=1
date3=April 12
score3=7 - 4
won3=2
date4=April 15
score4=10 - 3
won4=2
date5=April 17
score5=6 - 2
won5=1
date6=April 18
score6=9 - 2
won6=2
date7=April 22
score7=7 - 3
won7=1
series=Maine won series 4 - 3

(2) New Brunswick Hawks vs. (3) Nova Scotia Voyageurs

NHLPlayoffs
team1=New Brunswick Hawks
team2=Nova Scotia Voyageurs
date1=April 7
score1=3 - 2
won1=1
date2=April 9
score2=5 - 3
won2=1
date3=April 11
score3=3 - 6
won3=1
date4=April 12
score4=4 - 2
won4=2
date5=April 15
score5=0 - 3
won5=2
date6=April 17
score6=1 - 2
won6=1
series=New Brunswick won series 4 - 2

outhern Division

(1) Hershey Bears vs. (4) New Haven Nighthawks

NHLPlayoffs
team1=Hershey Bears
team2=New Haven Nighthawks
date1=April 8
score1=6 - 1
won1=1
date2=April 10
home2=2
score2=2 - 6
won2=1
date3=April 11
home3=1
score3=8 - 1
won3=1
date4=April 14
score4=2 - 3
ot4=OT
won4=1
series=Hershey won series 4 - 0

(2) Adirondack Red Wings vs. (3) Binghamton Whalers

NHLPlayoffs
team1=Adirondack Red Wings
team2=Binghamton Whalers
date1=April 7
score1=3 - 5
won1=2
date2=April 8
score2=6 - 3
won2=1
date3=April 11
score3=3 - 2
won3=2
date4=April 14
score4=4 - 5
won4=1
date5=April 17
score5=3 - 1
won5=1
date6=April 18
score6=5 - 6
ot6=OT
won6=1
series=Adirondack won series 4 - 2

Division Finals

Northern Division

(1) Maine Mariners vs. (2) New Brunswick Hawks

NHLPlayoffs
team1=Maine Mariners
team2=New Brunswick Hawks
date1=April 25
score1=4 - 1
won1=1
date2=April 27
score2=4 - 5
ot2=OT
won2=2
date3=April 29
score3=2 - 3
ot3=OT
won3=1
date4=May 1
score4=6 - 2
won4=2
date5=May 3
score5=5 - 4
ot5=OT
won5=1
date6=May 6
score6=7 - 1
won6=2
date7=May 8
score7=4 - 3
ot7=OT
won7=1
series=Maine won series 4 - 3

outhern Division

(1) Hershey Bears vs. (2) Adirondack Red Wings

NHLPlayoffs
team1=Hershey Bears
team2=Adirondack Red Wings
date1=April 22
score1=9 - 5
won1=1
date2=April 25
score2=4 - 5
won2=2
date3=April 28
score3=0 - 1
won3=1
date4=April 30
score4=7 - 4
won4=2
date5=May 2
score5=3 - 6
won5=2
date6=May 3
score6=6 - 3
won6=2
series=Adirondack won series 4 - 2

Calder Cup Final

(N1) Maine Mariners vs. (S2) Adirondack Red Wings

NHLPlayoffs
team1=Maine Mariners
team2=Adirondack Red Wings
date1=May 11
score1=3 - 2
won1=1
date2=May 13
score2=3 - 4
won2=2
date3=May 14
score3=1 - 0
won3=2
date4=May 16
score4=1 - 10
won4=1
date5=May 18
score5=4 - 6
won5=2
date6=May 20
score6=5 - 2
won6=2
series=Adirondack won series 4 - 2

ee also

*1980–81 AHL season
*List of AHL seasons

References