1998 Calder Cup playoffs
Tournament details
DatesApril 14–June 10, 1998
Teams16
Final positions
ChampionsPhiladelphia Phantoms
Runner-upSaint John Flames

The 1998 Calder Cup playoffs of the American Hockey League began on April 14, 1998.[1] The sixteen teams that qualified, eight from each conference, played best-of-five series for division semifinals and best-of-seven series for division finals and conference finals. The conference champions played a best-of-seven series for the Calder Cup. The Calder Cup Final ended on June 10, 1998, with the Philadelphia Phantoms defeating the Saint John Flames four games to two to win the first Calder Cup in team history.[2] Philadelphia's Mike Maneluk won the Jack A. Butterfield Trophy as the AHL playoff MVP.[3]

The Philadelphia Phantoms set an AHL playoff record by winning 9 road games in one playoff year.[4]

Playoff seeds

After the 1997–98 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 Western Conference regular season champions as well as the Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy winners with the best overall regular season record. The Springfield Falcons were the Eastern Conference regular season champions.[5]

Eastern Conference

Atlantic Division

  1. Saint John Flames – 99 points
  2. Fredericton Canadiens – 81 points
  3. Portland Pirates – 80 points
  4. St. John's Maple Leafs – 73 points

New England Division

  1. Springfield Falcons – Eastern Conference regular season champions, 99 points
  2. Hartford Wolf Pack – 99 points
  3. Beast of New Haven – 85 points
  4. Worcester IceCats – 83 points

Western Conference

Empire Division

  1. Albany River Rats – 103 points
  2. Hamilton Bulldogs – 94 points
  3. Syracuse Crunch – 83 points
  4. Adirondack Red Wings – 74 points
  5. Rochester Americans – 72 points (Played in the Mid-Atlantic Division bracket by virtue of earning more points than the fourth-placed team in that division)

Mid-Atlantic Division

  1. Philadelphia Phantoms – Western Conference regular season champions; Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy winners, 106 points
  2. Hershey Bears – 85 points
  3. Kentucky Thoroughblades – 70 points

Bracket

Division Semifinals Division Finals Conference Finals Calder Cup Final
            
A1 Saint John 3
A4 St. John's 1
A1 Saint John 4
Atlantic Division
A3 Portland 2
A2 Fredericton 1
A3 Portland 3
A1 Saint John 4
Eastern Conference
N2 Hartford 1
N1 Springfield 1
N4 Worcester 3
N4 Worcester 3
New England Division
N2 Hartford 4
N2 Hartford 3
N3 New Haven 0
A1 Saint John 2
M1 Philadelphia 4
E1 Albany 3
E4 Adirondack 0
E1 Albany 4
Empire Division
E3 Hamilton 0
E2 Hamilton 3
E3 Syracuse 2
E1 Albany 2
Western Conference
M1 Philadelphia 4
M1 Philadelphia 3
E5 Rochester 1
M1 Philadelphia 4
Mid-Atlantic Division
M2 Hershey 0
M2 Hershey 3
M3 Kentucky 0

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.[6]

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.

Eastern Conference

Atlantic Division

(A1) Saint John Flames vs. (A4) St. John's Maple Leafs
April 16 Saint John Flames 4 – 3 St. John's Maple Leafs Harbour Station
April 18 Saint John Flames 2 – 1 OT St. John's Maple Leafs Harbour Station
April 21 St. John's Maple Leafs 3 – 1 Saint John Flames Memorial Stadium
April 23 St. John's Maple Leafs 1 – 3 Saint John Flames Memorial Stadium
Saint John won series 3 – 1
(A2) Fredericton Canadiens vs. (A3) Portland Pirates
April 17 Fredericton Canadiens 3 – 4 Portland Pirates Aitken Centre
April 19 Fredericton Canadiens 2 – 4 Portland Pirates Aitken Centre
April 23 Portland Pirates 3 – 6 Fredericton Canadiens Cumberland County Civic Center
April 24 Portland Pirates 3 – 1 Fredericton Canadiens Cumberland County Civic Center
Portland won series 3 – 1

New England Division

(N1) Springfield Falcons vs. (N4) Worcester IceCats
April 14 {{{team1}}} 3 – 5 {{{team2}}} Springfield Civic Center
April 19 {{{team2}}} 3 – 2 OT {{{team1}}} Worcester's Centrum Centre
April 21 {{{team1}}} 5 – 2 {{{team2}}} Springfield Civic Center
April 24 {{{team2}}} 5 – 2 {{{team1}}} Worcester's Centrum Centre
Worcester won series 3 – 1
(N2) Hartford Wolf Pack vs. (N3) Beast of New Haven
April 17 Hartford Wolf Pack 7 – 4 Beast of New Haven Hartford Civic Center
April 18 Hartford Wolf Pack 6 – 4 Beast of New Haven Hartford Civic Center
April 22 Beast of New Haven 2 – 3 Hartford Wolf Pack New Haven Coliseum
Hartford won series 3 – 0

Western Conference

Empire Division

(E1) Albany River Rats vs. (E4) Adirondack Red Wings
April 17 Albany River Rats 6 – 3 Adirondack Red Wings Pepsi Arena
April 18 Albany River Rats 2 – 0 Adirondack Red Wings Pepsi Arena
April 21 Adirondack Red Wings 2 – 3 OT Albany River Rats Glens Falls Civic Center
Albany won series 3 – 0
(E2) Hamilton Bulldogs vs. (E3) Syracuse Crunch
April 17 Hamilton Bulldogs 2 – 5 Syracuse Crunch Copps Coliseum
April 19 Hamilton Bulldogs 2 – 1 Syracuse Crunch Copps Coliseum
April 22 Syracuse Crunch 3 – 0 Hamilton Bulldogs Onondaga War Memorial
April 23 Syracuse Crunch 3 – 4 Hamilton Bulldogs Onondaga War Memorial
May 25 Hamilton Bulldogs 2 – 1 Syracuse Crunch Copps Coliseum
Hamilton won series 3 – 2

Mid-Atlantic Division

(M1) Philadelphia Phantoms vs. (E5) Rochester Americans
April 14 Philadelphia Phantoms 5 – 2 Rochester Americans CoreStates Center[1]
April 16 Philadelphia Phantoms 2 – 5 Rochester Americans CoreStates Center[1]
April 18 Rochester Americans 2 – 5 Philadelphia Phantoms Rochester Community War Memorial
April 19 Rochester Americans 3 – 6 Philadelphia Phantoms Rochester Community War Memorial
Philadelphia won series 3 – 1
(M2) Hershey Bears vs. (M3) Kentucky Thoroughblades
April 15 Hershey Bears 2 – 1 Kentucky Thoroughblades Hersheypark Arena
April 17 Hershey Bears 2 – 1 Kentucky Thoroughblades Hersheypark Arena
April 22 Kentucky Thoroughblades 3 – 10 Hershey Bears Rupp Arena
Hershey won series 3 – 0

Division Finals

Eastern Conference

Atlantic Division

(A1) Saint John Flames vs. (A3) Portland Pirates
April 28 Saint John Flames 7 – 1 Portland Pirates Harbour Station
April 30 Saint John Flames 5 – 4 OT Portland Pirates Harbour Station
May 3 Portland Pirates 3 – 1 Saint John Flames Cumberland County Civic Center
May 5 Portland Pirates 4 – 5 Saint John Flames Cumberland County Civic Center
May 7 Saint John Flames 1 – 3 Portland Pirates Harbour Station
May 9 Portland Pirates 1 – 2 Saint John Flames Cumberland County Civic Center
Saint John won series 4 – 2

New England Division

(N2) Hartford Wolf Pack vs. (N4) Worcester IceCats
April 29 Hartford Wolf Pack 5 – 2 Worcester Ice Cats Hartford Civic Center
May 1 Hartford Wolf Pack 5 – 1 Worcester Ice Cats Hartford Civic Center
May 2 Worcester Ice Cats 6 – 3 Hartford Wolf Pack Worcester's Centrum Centre
May 5 Worcester Ice Cats 7 – 1 Hartford Wolf Pack Worcester's Centrum Centre
May 10 Hartford Wolf Pack 1 – 4 Worcester Ice Cats Hartford Civic Center
May 12 Worcester Ice Cats 1 – 4 Hartford Wolf Pack Worcester's Centrum Centre
May 13 Hartford Wolf Pack 8 – 2 Worcester Ice Cats Hartford Civic Center
Hartford won series 4 – 3

Western Conference

Empire Division

(E1) Albany River Rats vs. (E2) Hamilton Bulldogs
May 1 Albany River Rats 6 – 5 OT Hamilton Bulldogs Pepsi Arena
May 3 Albany River Rats 3 – 1 Hamilton Bulldogs Pepsi Arena
May 6 Hamilton Bulldogs 5 – 6 OT Albany River Rats Copps Coliseum
May 8 Hamilton Bulldogs 2 – 6 Albany River Rats Copps Coliseum
Albany won series 4 – 0

Mid-Atlantic Division

(M1) Philadelphia Phantoms vs. (M2) Hershey Bears
April 26 Philadelphia Phantoms 3 – 2 Hershey Bears CoreStates Center[1]
April 29 Philadelphia Phantoms 5 – 3 Hershey Bears CoreStates Center[1]
May 2 Hershey Bears 2 – 4 Philadelphia Phantoms Hersheypark Arena
May 3 Hershey Bears 0 – 3 Philadelphia Phantoms Hersheypark Arena
Philadelphia won series 4 – 0

Conference finals

Eastern Conference

(N2) Hartford Wolf Pack vs. (A1) Saint John Flames

May 16 Saint John Flames 5 – 4 Hartford Wolf Pack Harbour Station
May 18 Saint John Flames 1 – 6 Hartford Wolf Pack Harbour Station
May 20 Hartford Wolf Pack 2 – 5 Saint John Flames Hartford Civic Center
May 22 Hartford Wolf Pack 3 – 4 Saint John Flames Hartford Civic Center
May 24 Hartford Wolf Pack 3 – 7 Saint John Flames Hartford Civic Center
Saint John won series 4 – 1

Western Conference

(M1) Philadelphia Phantoms vs. (E1) Albany River Rats

May 15 Philadelphia Phantoms 4 – 2 Albany River Rats CoreStates Spectrum
May 17 Philadelphia Phantoms 1 – 2 Albany River Rats CoreStates Spectrum
May 20 Albany River Rats 0 – 2 Philadelphia Phantoms Pepsi Arena
May 22 Albany River Rats 3 – 7 Philadelphia Phantoms Pepsi Arena
May 23 Philadelphia Phantoms 3 – 4 Albany River Rats CoreStates Spectrum
May 25 Albany River Rats 0 – 3 Philadelphia Phantoms Pepsi Arena
Philadelphia won series 4 – 2

Calder Cup Final

(M1) Philadelphia Phantoms vs. (A1) Saint John Flames

May 30 Philadelphia Phantoms 3 – 2 2OT Saint John Flames CoreStates Spectrum
May 31 Philadelphia Phantoms 2 – 3 OT Saint John Flames CoreStates Spectrum
June 3 Saint John Flames 3 – 4 OT Philadelphia Phantoms Harbour Station
June 5 Saint John Flames 4 – 6 Philadelphia Phantoms Harbour Station
June 7 Saint John Flames 6 – 1 Philadelphia Phantoms Harbour Station
June 10 Philadelphia Phantoms 6 – 1 Saint John Flames CoreStates Spectrum
Philadelphia won series 4 – 2

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 1998 Calder Cup Playoffs caldercup.com. Retrieved on May 2, 2008.
  2. "Philadelphia Phantoms history timeline". phantomshockey.com. Archived from the original on June 27, 2009. Retrieved May 2, 2008.
  3. Jack A. Butterfield Trophy Archived 2008-09-17 at the Wayback Machine ahlhalloffame.com Retrieved on May 6, 2008.
  4. Calder Cup record book: Teams caldercup.com. Retrieved on May 6, 2008.
  5. 1997-98 AHL Standings The Internet Hockey Database. Retrieved on May 2, 2008.
  6. Frequently asked questions Archived 2008-05-09 at the Wayback Machine theahl.com. Retrieved on May 12, 2008.
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