The 2000 Calder Cup playoffs of the American Hockey League began on April 11, 2000.[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 4, 2000 with the Hartford Wolf Pack defeating the Rochester Americans four games to two to win the first Calder Cup in team history.[2]
After the 1999–2000 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 Eastern Conference, it was possible for the fifth-placed team in the New England Division to crossover to the Atlantic Division. This could only happen if the fifth-placed team in the New England Division earned more points than the fourth-placed team in the Atlantic Division. In this case, the fifth-placed team from the New England Division would play in place of the fourth-placed team from the Atlantic Division in that part of the playoff bracket. The Hartford Wolf Pack were the Eastern Conference regular season champions as well as the Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy winners with the best overall regular season record. The Rochester Americans were the Western Conference regular season champions.[6]
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.[7]
Division Semifinals
Note 1: All times are in
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) Quebec Citadelles vs. (N5) Providence Bruins
April 12
Quebec Citadelles
1 – 4
Providence Bruins
Colisée Pepsi
April 13
Quebec Citadelles
3 – 4
2OT
Providence Bruins
Colisée Pepsi
April 16
Providence Bruins
6 – 5
Quebec Citadelles
Providence Civic Center
Providence won series 3 – 0
(A2) Saint John Flames vs. (A3) Lowell Lock Monsters
April 12
Saint John Flames
2 – 5
Lowell Lock Monsters
Harbour Station
April 13
Saint John Flames
2 – 3
Lowell Lock Monsters
Harbour Station
April 15
Lowell Lock Monsters
2 – 1
Saint John Flames
Tsongas Arena
Lowell won series 3 – 0
New England Division
(N1) Hartford Wolf Pack vs. (N4) Springfield Falcons
April 13
Hartford Wolf Pack
3 – 2
Springfield Falcons
Hartford Civic Center
April 15
Hartford Wolf Pack
5 – 6
OT
Springfield Falcons
Hartford Civic Center
April 16
Springfield Falcons
3 – 0
Hartford Wolf Pack
Springfield Civic Center
April 18
Springfield Falcons
2 – 5
Hartford Wolf Pack
Springfield Civic Center
April 20
Hartford Wolf Pack
7 – 2
Springfield Falcons
Hartford Civic Center
Hartford won series 3 – 2
(N2) Portland Pirates vs. (N3) Worcester IceCats
April 12
Portland Pirates
0 – 4
Worcester IceCats
Cumberland County Civic Center
April 14
Portland Pirates
2 – 4
Worcester IceCats
Cumberland County Civic Center
April 15
Worcester IceCats
4 – 5
2OT
Portland Pirates
Worcester's Centrum Centre
April 18
Worcester IceCats
5 – 2
Portland Pirates
Worcester's Centrum Centre
Worcester won series 3 – 1
Western Conference
Empire Division
(E1) Rochester Americans vs. (E4) Albany River Rats