2008 Calder Cup Playoffs
Encyclopedia
The 2008 Calder Cup Playoffs of the American Hockey League
began on April 16, 2008. 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.
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 the longest game in AHL history. 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
. 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
. Goligoski extended his record to 28 points before the playoffs ended.
, 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. 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.
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
began on April 16, 2008. 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
Calder Cup
The Calder Cup is awarded annually to the playoff champion of the American Hockey League. The trophy is the world's second oldest continuous professional ice hockey championship, having first been awarded in 1937 following the 1936-37 AHL season, and continuously being awarded every year.The cup...
. The Calder Cup Final ended on June 10, 2008 with the Chicago Wolves
Chicago Wolves
The Chicago Wolves are a professional hockey team playing in the American Hockey League. They are the top affiliate of the Vancouver Canucks of the NHL. The Wolves play home games at the Allstate Arena in the Chicago suburb of Rosemont, Illinois...
defeating the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins are the American Hockey League affiliate of the NHL's Pittsburgh Penguins. They play in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania at the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza...
, four games to two, to win the second Calder Cup in team history. Jason Krog
Jason Krog
Jason Krog is a professional ice hockey centre currently contracted by HV71 in the Swedish elite league Elitserien .-Playing career:...
won the Jack A. Butterfield Trophy as playoff MVP, after having already been named the regular-season MVP
Les Cunningham Award
The Les Cunningham Award is given annually to American Hockey League's "Most Valuable Player" of the regular season, as voted on by AHL media and players....
. Krog also tied the AHL record for most assists
Assist (ice hockey)
In ice hockey, an assist is attributed to up to two players of the scoring team who shot, passed or deflected the puck towards the scoring teammate, or touched it in any other way which enabled the goal, meaning that they were "assisting" in the goal. There can be a maximum of two assists per goal...
in one playoff with 26.
In Game 5 of the East Division Semifinals between the Philadelphia Phantoms
Philadelphia Phantoms
The Philadelphia Phantoms were a professional ice hockey team that played in the American Hockey League from 1996 to 2009. The club was based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and played most of its home games at the Spectrum. During schedule conflicts or some Calder Cup playoff games, games were...
and Albany River Rats
Albany River Rats
The Albany River Rats were an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They played in Albany, New York at the Times Union Center.- Founding to 2010 :...
, Ryan Potulny
Ryan Potulny
Ryan Potulny is an American professional ice hockey player. Potulny is a member of the Washington Capitals in the National Hockey League...
of Philadelphia scored 2:58 into the fifth overtime period, ending the longest game in AHL history. Chicago's Darren Haydar
Darren Haydar
Darren Haydar is a Canadian professional ice hockey winger who currently plays for the Chicago Wolves in the American Hockey League.-Playing career:...
set two AHL playoff scoring records in Game 2 of the Calder Cup Final by recording his 52nd career AHL playoff goal
Goal (ice hockey)
In ice hockey, a goal is scored when the puck completely crosses the goal line between the two goal posts and below the goal crossbar. A goal awards one point to the team attacking the goal scored upon, regardless of which team the player who actually deflected the puck into the goal belongs to...
, as well as his 120th career AHL playoff point
Point (ice hockey)
Point in ice hockey has three official meanings:* A point is awarded to a player for each goal scored or assist earned. The total number of goals plus assists equals total points. In some European leagues, a goal counts as two points, and an assist counts as one...
. In the same game, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's Alex Goligoski
Alex Goligoski
Alexander Marcus Flint Goligoski is an American professional ice hockey defenseman currently playing for the Dallas Stars of the National Hockey League.-Playing career:...
set an AHL record for most points scored by a defenseman
Defenceman (ice hockey)
Defence in ice hockey is a player position whose primary responsibility is to prevent the opposing team from scoring...
in a single post-season with 26. This eclipsed the record set by former Wilkes-Barre/Scranton defenseman Chris Kelleher
Chris Kelleher
Christopher Kelleher is a retired American professional ice hockey defenseman who played in one National Hockey League game for the Boston Bruins during the 2001–02 NHL season. He is currently a scout for the Minnesota Wild....
, who scored 25 points in the 2001 Calder Cup Playoffs
2001 Calder Cup Playoffs
The 2001 Calder Cup Playoffs of the American Hockey League began on April 10, 2001. 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...
. Goligoski extended his record to 28 points before the playoffs ended.
Playoff seeds
After the 2007–08 AHL regular season2007–08 AHL season
The 2007–08 AHL season is the 72nd season of the American Hockey League. Twenty-nine teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Chicago Wolves won their second Calder Cup, defeating the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in the Calder Cup Final.-Team changes:...
, 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
San Antonio Rampage
The San Antonio Rampage are an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League based in San Antonio, Texas. They are the top affiliate of the Florida Panthers of the NHL. Their home arena is the AT&T Center.-History:...
earned more points than the Hamilton Bulldogs
Hamilton Bulldogs
The Hamilton Bulldogs are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They play in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, at Copps Coliseum, nicknamed 'The Dog Pound'. They are the AHL affiliate of the NHL's Montreal Canadiens...
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. The Providence Bruins
Providence Bruins
The Providence Bruins are an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League, and are the primary development team for the NHL's Boston Bruins. They play in Providence, Rhode Island at the Dunkin' Donuts Center.-History:...
were the Eastern Conference regular season champions as well as the Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy
Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy
The Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy is presented annually to the AHL team that finishes the regular season with the most points. The award is named after former AHL board member Macgregor Kilpatrick....
winners with the best overall regular season record. The Chicago Wolves
Chicago Wolves
The Chicago Wolves are a professional hockey team playing in the American Hockey League. They are the top affiliate of the Vancouver Canucks of the NHL. The Wolves play home games at the Allstate Arena in the Chicago suburb of Rosemont, Illinois...
were the Western Conference regular season champions.
Atlantic Division
- Providence BruinsProvidence BruinsThe Providence Bruins are an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League, and are the primary development team for the NHL's Boston Bruins. They play in Providence, Rhode Island at the Dunkin' Donuts Center.-History:...
- Eastern Conference regular season champions; Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy winners, 117 points - Hartford Wolf PackHartford Wolf PackThe Connecticut Whale is a professional ice hockey team based in Hartford, Connecticut. They play in the American Hockey League . They play their home games at the XL Center....
- 110 points - Portland PiratesPortland PiratesThe Portland Pirates is a minor professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They are the top affiliate of the Phoenix Coyotes of the National Hockey League. They play in the Cumberland County Civic Center in downtown Portland, Maine. The franchise was previously known as the...
- 99 points - Manchester MonarchsManchester MonarchsThe Manchester Monarchs are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League . They play in Manchester, New Hampshire at the Verizon Wireless Arena. They have been the AHL affiliate of the Los Angeles Kings since 2001.-History:...
- 88 points
East Division
- Wilkes-Barre/Scranton PenguinsWilkes-Barre/Scranton PenguinsThe Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins are the American Hockey League affiliate of the NHL's Pittsburgh Penguins. They play in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania at the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza...
- 101 points - Philadelphia PhantomsPhiladelphia PhantomsThe Philadelphia Phantoms were a professional ice hockey team that played in the American Hockey League from 1996 to 2009. The club was based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and played most of its home games at the Spectrum. During schedule conflicts or some Calder Cup playoff games, games were...
- 99 points - Albany River RatsAlbany River RatsThe Albany River Rats were an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They played in Albany, New York at the Times Union Center.- Founding to 2010 :...
- 93 points - Hershey BearsHershey BearsThe Hershey Bears Hockey Club is a professional ice hockey team playing in the American Hockey League, and is currently the top affiliate of the NHL Washington Capitals. The hockey club is based in the unincorporated town of Hershey, Pennsylvania, located within Derry Township some 14 miles east of...
- 92 points
North Division
- Toronto MarliesToronto MarliesThe Toronto Marlies is a Canadian professional ice hockey team currently playing in the American Hockey League . The top affiliate of the National Hockey League 's Toronto Maple Leafs, the Marlies play at the Ricoh Coliseum in Toronto, Ontario...
- 109 points - Syracuse CrunchSyracuse CrunchThe Syracuse Crunch are a minor league professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They play in Syracuse, New York, at the War Memorial at Oncenter...
- 100 points - Manitoba MooseManitoba MooseThe Manitoba Moose were a Canadian professional ice hockey team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba that played in the International Hockey League from 1996 to 2001 and American Hockey League from 2001 to 2011. The team moved to St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador in 2011 to become the St...
- 99 points - San Antonio RampageSan Antonio RampageThe San Antonio Rampage are an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League based in San Antonio, Texas. They are the top affiliate of the Florida Panthers of the NHL. Their home arena is the AT&T Center.-History:...
- 94 points (Fifth-place in West Division)
West Division
- Chicago WolvesChicago WolvesThe Chicago Wolves are a professional hockey team playing in the American Hockey League. They are the top affiliate of the Vancouver Canucks of the NHL. The Wolves play home games at the Allstate Arena in the Chicago suburb of Rosemont, Illinois...
- Western Conference regular season champions, 111 points - Rockford IceHogsRockford IceHogsThis article is about the former UHL franchise. For the current American Hockey League franchise, see Rockford IceHogs.The Rockford IceHogs were a professional ice hockey team in Rockford, Illinois USA. They were a member of the United Hockey League from 1999 to 2007. The IceHogs played their home...
- 98 points - Houston AerosHouston AerosThe Houston Aeros are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. The team plays in Houston, Texas, at the Toyota Center. They are the AHL affiliate of the NHL's Minnesota Wild.- History :...
- 96 points - Milwaukee AdmiralsMilwaukee AdmiralsThe Milwaukee Admirals are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They play in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA at the Bradley Center.-History:...
- 95 points
Bracket
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.Division Semifinals
- Note 1: All times are in Eastern TimeEastern Time ZoneThe Eastern Time Zone of the United States and Canada is a time zone that falls mostly along the east coast of North America. Its UTC time offset is −5 hrs during standard time and −4 hrs during daylight saving time...
(UTC-4UTC-4UTC−04-00 is an identifier for a time offset from UTC of −04.This offset is used in the Atlantic Standard Time Zone in Canada and the North American Eastern Time Zone during daylight saving time , in the Caribbean region this is considered as the Eastern Caribbean timezone...
). - Note 2: Game times in italics signify games to be played only if necessary.
- Note 3: Home team is listed first.