2008 Calder Cup playoffs

The 2008 Calder Cup playoffs of the American Hockey League began on April 16, 2008.[1] The sixteen teams that qualified, eight from each conference, played best-of-7 series for division semifinals, finals and conference finals. The conference champions played a best-of-7 series for the Calder Cup. The Calder Cup Final ended on June 10, 2008 with the Chicago Wolves defeating the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, four games to two, to win the second Calder Cup in team history. Jason Krog won the Jack A. Butterfield Trophy as playoff MVP, after having already been named the regular-season MVP. Krog also tied the AHL record for most assists in one playoff with 26.[2]

2008 Calder Cup playoffs
Tournament details
DatesApril 16-June 10, 2008
Teams16
Final positions
ChampionsChicago Wolves
Runner-upWilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
← 2007
2009 →

In Game 5 of the East Division Semifinals between the Philadelphia Phantoms and Albany River Rats, Ryan Potulny of Philadelphia scored 2:58 into the fifth overtime period, ending what was longest game in AHL history.[3] In 2018 a game would last until 6:48 into the fifth overtime period, setting a new record. Chicago's Darren Haydar set two AHL playoff scoring records in Game 2 of the Calder Cup Final by recording his 52nd career AHL playoff goal, as well as his 120th career AHL playoff point.[4] In the same game, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's Alex Goligoski set an AHL record for most points scored by a defenseman in a single post-season with 26. This eclipsed the record set by former Wilkes-Barre/Scranton defenseman Chris Kelleher, who scored 25 points in the 2001 Calder Cup Playoffs.[5] Goligoski extended his record to 28 points before the playoffs ended.[6]

Playoff seeds

After the 2007–08 AHL regular season, 16 teams qualified for the playoffs. The top four teams from each division qualified for the playoffs, except in the North division where the fourth playoff spot was taken by the fifth-placed team from the West division since the fifth-placed San Antonio Rampage earned more points than the Hamilton Bulldogs during the season. This is because the West division has 8 teams while the other three divisions have 7 teams each. Therefore, this was the only situation in which a crossover was possible.[7] The Providence Bruins were the Eastern Conference regular season champions as well as the Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy winners with the best overall regular season record. The Chicago Wolves were the Western Conference regular season champions.[8]

Atlantic Division
  1. Providence Bruins – Eastern Conference regular season champions; Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy winners, 117 points
  2. Hartford Wolf Pack – 110 points
  3. Portland Pirates – 99 points
  4. Manchester Monarchs – 88 points

East Division
  1. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins – 101 points
  2. Philadelphia Phantoms – 99 points
  3. Albany River Rats – 93 points
  4. Hershey Bears – 92 points

North Division
  1. Toronto Marlies – 109 points
  2. Syracuse Crunch – 100 points
  3. Manitoba Moose – 99 points
  4. San Antonio Rampage – 94 points (Fifth-place in West Division)

West Division
  1. Chicago Wolves – Western Conference regular season champions, 111 points
  2. Rockford IceHogs – 98 points
  3. Houston Aeros – 96 points
  4. Milwaukee Admirals – 95 points

Bracket
  Division Semifinals Division Finals Conference Finals Calder Cup Final
                                     
A1 Providence 4  
A4 Manchester 0  
  A1 Providence 2  
Atlantic Division
  A3 Portland 4  
A2 Hartford 1
A3 Portland 4  
  A3 Portland 3  
Eastern Conference
  E1 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 4  
E1 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 4  
E4 Hershey 1  
  E1 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 4
East Division
  E2 Philadelphia 1  
E2 Philadelphia 4
E3 Albany 3  
  E1 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 2
  W1 Chicago 4
N1 Toronto 4  
W5 San Antonio 3  
  N1 Toronto 4
North Division
  N2 Syracuse 3  
N2 Syracuse 4
N3 Manitoba 2  
  N1 Toronto 1
Western Conference
  W1 Chicago 4  
W1 Chicago 4  
W4 Milwaukee 2  
  W1 Chicago 4
West Division
  W2 Rockford 3  
W2 Rockford 4
W3 Houston 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.[9]

Division Semifinals
Note 1: All times are in Eastern Daylight Time (UTC−4).
Note 2: Game times in italics signify games to be played only if necessary.
Note 3: Home team is listed first.
(A1) Providence Bruins vs. (A4) Manchester Monarchs
Providence wins series 4 – 0
(A2) Hartford Wolf Pack vs. (A3) Portland Pirates
Portland wins series 4 – 1
(E1) Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins vs. (E4) Hershey Bears
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton wins series 4 – 1
(E2) Philadelphia Phantoms vs. (E3) Albany River Rats

Game five was the longest game in AHL history at the time at 82 minutes, 58 seconds of overtime play. It is now the second longest game in AHL history. Philadelphia's Michael Leighton faced 101 shots and made 98 saves, which remains the AHL record.[10][11]

Philadelphia wins series 4 – 3
(N1) Toronto Marlies vs. (W5) San Antonio Rampage
Toronto wins series 4 – 3
(N2) Syracuse Crunch vs. (N3) Manitoba Moose
Syracuse wins series 4 – 2
(W1) Chicago Wolves vs. (W4) Milwaukee Admirals
Chicago wins series 4 – 2
(W2) Rockford IceHogs vs. (W3) Houston Aeros
Rockford wins series 4 – 1

Division Finals
(A1) Providence Bruins vs. (A3) Portland Pirates
Portland wins series 4 – 2
(E1) Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins vs. (E2) Philadelphia Phantoms
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton wins series 4 – 1
(N1) Toronto Marlies vs. (N2) Syracuse Crunch
Toronto wins series 4 – 3
(W1) Chicago Wolves vs. (W2) Rockford IceHogs
Chicago wins series 4 – 3

Conference finals

(E1) Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins vs. (A3) Portland Pirates
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton wins series 4-3

(W1) Chicago Wolves vs. (N1) Toronto Marlies
Chicago wins series 4 – 1

Calder Cup Final

(W1) Chicago Wolves vs. (E1) Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
Chicago wins series 4 – 2

See also

References
  1. 2008 Calder Cup Playoffs caldercup.com. Retrieved on May 6, 2008
  2. Alpha Wolves: Chicago reclaims Calder Cup caldercup.com. Retrieved on June 10, 2008.
  3. Phantoms win longest game in AHL history TheAHL.com. Retrieved on June 8, 2014
  4. Haydar sets AHL playoff scoring records caldercup.com. Retrieved on June 2, 2008.
  5. Scoring correction gives Goligoski league record caldercup.com. Retrieved on June 2, 2008.
  6. Top Scorers - 2008 Calder Cup Playoffs - Defencemen Archived 2008-08-28 at the Wayback Machine theahl.com. Retrieved on June 12, 2008.
  7. Calder Cup playoff qualification rules caldercup.com. Retrieved on April 27, 2008
  8. 2007-08 AHL Standings Archived 2008-02-21 at the Wayback Machine caldercup.com. Retrieved on April 27, 2008
  9. Frequently asked questions Archived 2008-05-09 at the Wayback Machine theahl.com. Retrieved on May 12, 2008.
  10. https://theahl.com/marathon-men-phantoms-win-longest-ahl-game-ever
  11. https://theahl.com/leighton-announces-retirement-after-18-pro-seasons
Preceded by
2007 Calder Cup playoffs		 Calder Cup playoffs
2008		 Succeeded by
2009 Calder Cup playoffs
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