The 1982 Calder Cup playoffs of the American Hockey League began on April 7, 1982.[1] The eight teams that qualified played best-of-five series for Division Semifinals and best-of-seven series for Division Finals. The division champions played a best-of-seven series for the Calder Cup. The Calder Cup Final ended on May 10, 1982, with the New Brunswick Hawks defeating the Binghamton Whalers four games to one to win the Calder Cup for the only time in team history.[2]
Playoff seeds
After the 1981–82 AHL regular season, the top four teams from each division qualified for the playoffs. However, since the fifth-placed team of the Southern division (Adirondack) earned more points than the fourth-placed team in the Northern division (Springfield), Adirondack played in the Northern division portion of the bracket in place of Springfield. The New Brunswick Hawks finished the regular season with the best overall record.[3]
Adirondack Red Wings - 77 points (Played in the Northern division part of the bracket in place of Springfield due to earning more points during the regular season.)
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.[4]
Division Semifinals
Note 1: Home team is listed first.
Note 2: The number of overtime periods played (where applicable) is not indicated
Northern Division
(N1) New Brunswick Hawks vs. (S5) Adirondack Red Wings
April 7
New Brunswick Hawks
1 - 3
Adirondack Red Wings
April 9
New Brunswick Hawks
4 - 3
Adirondack Red Wings
April 10
Adirondack Red Wings
6 - 3
New Brunswick Hawks
April 13
Adirondack Red Wings
5 - 8
New Brunswick Hawks
April 15
New Brunswick Hawks
6 - 3
Adirondack Red Wings
New Brunswick won series 3 – 2
(N2) Maine Mariners vs. (N3) Nova Scotia Voyageurs
April 8
Maine Mariners
6 - 7
Nova Scotia Voyageurs
April 9
Maine Mariners
4 - 3
OT
Nova Scotia Voyageurs
April 12
Nova Scotia Voyageurs
3 - 1
Maine Mariners
April 14
Nova Scotia Voyageurs
6 - 3
Maine Mariners
Nova Scotia won series 3 - 1
Southern Division
(S1) Binghamton Whalers vs. (S4) Hershey Bears
April 7
Binghamton Whalers
6 - 4
Hershey Bears
April 9
Binghamton Whalers
1 - 5
Hershey Bears
April 10
Hershey Bears
5 - 6
Binghamton Whalers
April 13
Hershey Bears
7 - 4
Binghamton Whalers
April 15
Binghamton Whalers
9 - 3
Hershey Bears
Binghamton won series 3 - 2
(S2) Rochester Americans vs. (S3) New Haven Nighthawks
April 7
Rochester Americans
4 - 3
New Haven Nighthawks
April 8
Rochester Americans
8 - 7
OT
New Haven Nighthawks
April 10
New Haven Nighthawks
3 - 2
4OT
Rochester Americans
April 14
New Haven Nighthawks
2 - 5
Rochester Americans
Rochester won series 3 - 1
Division Finals
Northern Division
(N1) New Brunswick Hawks vs. (N3) Nova Scotia Voyageurs
April 19
New Brunswick Hawks
3 - 2
OT
Nova Scotia Voyageurs
April 22
New Brunswick Hawks
3 - 0
Nova Scotia Voyageurs
April 24
Nova Scotia Voyageurs
1 - 5
New Brunswick Hawks
April 26
Nova Scotia Voyageurs
4 - 3
New Brunswick Hawks
April 28
New Brunswick Hawks
2 - 1
OT
Nova Scotia Voyageurs
New Brunswick won series 4 - 1
Southern Division
(S1) Binghamton Whalers vs. (S2) Rochester Americans
April 17
Binghamton Whalers
5 - 3
Rochester Americans
April 21
Binghamton Whalers
5 - 3
Rochester Americans
April 23
Rochester Americans
4 - 2
Binghamton Whalers
April 25
Rochester Americans
1 - 5
Binghamton Whalers
April 26
Binghamton Whalers
5 - 3
Rochester Americans
Binghamton won series 4 - 1
Calder Cup Final
(N1) New Brunswick Hawks vs. (S1) Binghamton Whalers