The 1992 Calder Cup playoffs of the American Hockey League began on April 7, 1992.[1] The twelve teams that qualified, four from each division, played best-of-seven series for division semifinals and division finals. The highest remaining seed received a bye for the third round while the other two remaining teams played a best-of-three series, with the winner advancing to play the bye-team in a best-of-seven series for the Calder Cup. The Calder Cup Final ended on May 29, 1992, with the Adirondack Red Wings defeating the St. John's Maple Leafs four games to three in a series in which the visiting team won every game to win the fourth Calder Cup in team history.[2] Adirondack's Allan Bester won the Jack A. Butterfield Trophy as AHL playoff MVP.[3]
Playoff seeds
After the 1991-92 AHL regular season, twelve teams qualified for the playoffs. The top four teams from each division qualified for the playoffs. The Fredericton Canadiens finished the regular season with the best overall record.[4]
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. For the Semifinal round, the team that earned the most points during the regular season out of the three remaining teams receives a bye directly to the Calder Cup Final. There is no set series format due to arena scheduling conflicts and travel considerations.[5]
Division Semifinals
Note 1: Home team is listed first.
Note 2: The number of overtime periods played (where applicable) is not specified
Atlantic Division
(A1) Fredericton Canadiens vs. (A4) Moncton Hawks
April 7
Fredericton Canadiens
4 - 3
OT
Moncton Hawks
April 8
Moncton Hawks
3 - 0
Fredericton Canadiens
April 13
Fredericton Canadiens
5 - 6
Moncton Hawks
April 15
Moncton Hawks
1 - 2
OT
Fredericton Canadiens
April 17
Fredericton Canadiens
5 - 1
Moncton Hawks
April 19
Moncton Hawks
4 - 3
OT
Fredericton Canadiens
April 21
Fredericton Canadiens
2 - 3
OT
Moncton Hawks
Moncton won series 4 – 3
(A2) St. John's Maple Leafs vs. (A3) Cape Breton Oilers
April 9
St. John's Maple Leafs
4 - 5
OT
Cape Breton Oilers
April 10
St. John's Maple Leafs
9 - 5
Cape Breton Oilers
April 12
Cape Breton Oilers
4 - 5
St. John's Maple Leafs
April 14
Cape Breton Oilers
4 - 5
OT
St. John's Maple Leafs
April 16
St. John's Maple Leafs
3 - 2
OT
Cape Breton Oilers
St. John's won series 4 - 1
Northern Division
(N1) Springfield Indians vs. (N4) Capital District Islanders
April 8
Springfield Indians
1 - 4
Capital District Islanders
April 10
Springfield Indians
4 - 3
Capital District Islanders
April 11
Capital District Islanders
4 - 5
OT
Springfield Indians
April 14
Capital District Islanders
5 - 3
Springfield Indians
April 17
Springfield Indians
5 - 2
Capital District Islanders
April 18
Capital District Islanders
6 - 3
Springfield Indians
April 22
Springfield Indians
5 - 1
Capital District Islanders
Springfield won series 4 – 3
(N2) Adirondack Red Wings vs. (N3) New Haven Nighthawks
April 9
Adirondack Red Wings
6 - 4
New Haven Nighthawks
April 11
Adirondack Red Wings
5 - 2
New Haven Nighthawks
April 15
New Haven Nighthawks
6 - 4
Adirondack Red Wings
April 17
New Haven Nighthawks
3 - 4
OT
Adirondack Red Wings
April 18
Adirondack Red Wings
4 - 1
New Haven Nighthawks
Adirondack won series 4 - 1
Southern Division
(S1) Binghamton Rangers vs. (S4) Utica Devils
April 10
Binghamton Rangers
5 - 3
Utica Devils
April 12
Utica Devils
5 - 6
OT
Binghamton Rangers
April 15
Binghamton Rangers
4 - 3
Utica Devils
April 17
Utica Devils
4 - 6
Binghamton Rangers
Binghamton won series 4 - 0
(S2) Rochester Americans vs. (S3) Hershey Bears
April 8
Rochester Americans
4 - 3
OT
Hershey Bears
April 10
Rochester Americans
4 - 3
Hershey Bears
April 12
Hershey Bears
3 - 5
Rochester Americans
April 15
Hershey Bears
5 - 4
OT
Rochester Americans
April 17
Rochester Americans
1 - 2
Hershey Bears
April 18
Hershey Bears
0 - 2
Rochester Americans
Rochester won series 4 - 2
Division Finals
Atlantic Division
(A2) St. John's Maple Leafs vs. (A4) Moncton Hawks
April 24
St. John's Maple Leafs
8 - 4
Moncton Hawks
April 26
St. John's Maple Leafs
6 - 5
Moncton Hawks
April 28
Moncton Hawks
2 - 4
St. John's Maple Leafs
April 30
Moncton Hawks
2 - 8
St. John's Maple Leafs
St. John's won series 4 - 0
Northern Division
(N1) Springfield Indians vs. (N2) Adirondack Red Wings
April 25
Springfield Indians
3 - 5
Adirondack Red Wings
April 27
Adirondack Red Wings
2 - 0
Springfield Indians
April 28
Springfield Indians
1 - 2
Adirondack Red Wings
May 3
Adirondack Red Wings
4 - 1
Springfield Indians
Adirondack won series 4 - 0
Minor league star Bruce Boudreau played his final game in this series, appearing for Adirondack as an emergency injury replacement in the third and fourth matches.
Southern Division
(S1) Binghamton Rangers vs. (S2) Rochester Americans
April 24
Binghamton Rangers
6 - 1
Rochester Americans
April 26
Rochester Americans
4 - 2
Binghamton Rangers
April 29
Binghamton Rangers
3 - 1
Rochester Americans
May 2
Rochester Americans
2 - 4
Binghamton Rangers
May 3
Binghamton Rangers
2 - 4
Rochester Americans
May 6
Rochester Americans
4 - 3
Binghamton Rangers
May 8
Binghamton Rangers
2 - 4
Rochester Americans
Rochester won series 4 - 3
Semifinal
Bye
(A2) St. John's Maple Leafs receive a bye to the Calder Cup Final by virtue of having earned the highest point total in the regular season out of the three remaining teams.
(S2) Rochester Americans vs. (N2) Adirondack Red Wings
May 11
Adirondack Red Wings
3 - 2
Rochester Americans
May 13
Rochester Americans
3 - 2
Adirondack Red Wings
May 15
Rochester Americans
3 - 5
Adirondack Red Wings
Adirondack won series 2 - 1
Calder Cup Final
(A2) St. John's Maple Leafs vs. (N2) Adirondack Red Wings