1976 Calder Cup playoffs
The 1976 Calder Cup playoffs of the American Hockey League began on April 3, 1976.[1] The top three teams from each division qualified for the playoffs. The two division winners earned byes for the Division Semifinals while the other two teams in each division played best-of-seven series. The winners played best-of-seven series with the team that received the first round bye in their division. The winners of each Division Final played a best-of-seven series for the Calder Cup. The Calder Cup Final ended on April 28, 1976 with the Nova Scotia Voyageurs defeating the Hershey Bears four games to one to win the Calder Cup for the second time in team history.[2] Coincidentally, the Voyageurs parent club, the Montreal Canadiens won the Stanley Cup in a four game sweep over the Philadelphia Flyers, making them the first pair of teams in history to win both the AHL's Calder Cup and NHL's Stanley Cup in the same season. Even more impressive is that these same two teams would accomplish this feat again the following year.
Playoff seeds
After the 1975–76 AHL regular season, the top three teams from each division qualified for the playoffs. The Nova Scotia Voyageurs finished the regular season with the best overall record.[3] The two division champions earned byes to the Division Finals.[1]
Northern Division
- Nova Scotia Voyageurs - 104 points
- Rochester Americans - 93 points
- Providence Reds - 76 points
Southern Division
- Hershey Bears - 84 points
- Richmond Robins - 66 points
- New Haven Nighthawks - 66 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.[4]
Division Semifinals
- Note: Home team is listed first.
Byes
- Nova Scotia Voyageurs (Northern Division regular-season champions)
- Hershey Bears (Southern Division regular-season champions)
Northern Division
(2) Rochester Americans vs. (3) Providence Reds
April 4 |
Rochester Americans |
|
5 - 3 |
|
Providence Reds |
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|
April 7 |
Providence Reds |
|
1 - 3 |
|
Rochester Americans |
|
|
April 9 |
Rochester Americans |
|
6 - 4 |
|
Providence Reds |
|
|
Rochester won series 3 - 0 |
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|
|
Southern Division
(2) Richmond Robins vs. (3) New Haven Nighthawks
April 3 |
Richmond Robins |
|
4 - 1 |
|
New Haven Nighthawks |
|
|
April 4 |
New Haven Nighthawks |
|
1 - 2 |
OT |
Richmond Robins |
|
|
April 7 |
Richmond Robins |
|
4 - 1 |
|
New Haven Nighthawks |
|
|
Richmond won series 3 - 0 |
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|
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Division Finals
Northern Division
(1) Nova Scotia Voyageurs vs. (2) Rochester Americans
April 12 |
Nova Scotia Voyageurs |
|
6 - 2 |
|
Rochester Americans |
|
|
April 14 |
Nova Scotia Voyageurs |
|
5 - 3 |
|
Rochester Americans |
|
|
April 16 |
Rochester Americans |
|
1 - 5 |
|
Nova Scotia Voyageurs |
|
|
April 18 |
Rochester Americans |
|
3 - 6 |
|
Nova Scotia Voyageurs |
|
|
Nova Scotia won series 4 - 0 |
|
|
|
Southern Division
(1) Hershey Bears vs. (2) Richmond Robins
April 10 |
Hershey Bears |
|
2 - 4 |
|
Richmond Robins |
|
|
April 11 |
Richmond Robins |
|
3 - 4 |
|
Hershey Bears |
|
|
April 13 |
Hershey Bears |
|
3 - 1 |
|
Richmond Robins |
|
|
April 16 |
Richmond Robins |
|
5 - 7 |
|
Hershey Bears |
|
|
April 17 |
Hershey Bears |
|
2 - 1 |
|
Richmond Robins |
|
|
Calder Cup Final
(N1) Nova Scotia Voyageurs vs. (S1) Hershey Bears
April 21 |
Nova Scotia Voyageurs |
|
6 - 3 |
|
Hershey Bears |
|
|
April 23 |
Nova Scotia Voyageurs |
|
8 - 2 |
|
Hershey Bears |
|
|
April 24 |
Hershey Bears |
|
5 - 1 |
|
Nova Scotia Voyageurs |
|
|
April 26 |
Hershey Bears |
|
2 - 4 |
|
Nova Scotia Voyageurs |
|
|
April 28 |
Nova Scotia Voyageurs |
|
5 - 4 |
OT |
Hershey Bears |
|
|
Nova Scotia won series 4 - 1 |
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See also
References
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