The 1995 Calder Cup Playoffs of the American Hockey League began on April 12, 1995.[1] The twelve teams that qualified, four from each division, played best-of-7 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-3 series series, with the winner advancing to play the bye-team in a best-of-7 series for the Calder Cup. The Calder Cup Final ended on May 26, 1995 with the Albany River Rats defeating the Fredericton Canadiens four games to zero to win the first Calder Cup in team history.[2] Albany's Corey Schwab and Mike Dunham were co-winners of the Jack A. Butterfield Trophy as AHL playoff co-MVPs.[3]
The Southern Division semifinal between Cornwall and Hershey was a penalty filled series. The two teams combined for 575 penalty minutes in the series, an AHL record. Hershey's 323 penalty minutes in that series set another AHL playoff record for most penalty minutes by one team in one series. Furthermore, Hershey set yet another AHL playoff record by accumulating 186 penalty minutes in game 5 of the series, the most by one team in one playoff game.[4]
After the 1994-95 AHL regular season, 12 teams qualified for the playoffs. The top four teams from each division qualified for the playoffs. The Albany River Rats finished the regular season with the best overall record.[5]
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 Calder Cup 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.
[6]
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) Prince Edward Island Senators vs. (A4) Saint John Flames[]
April 13
Prince Edward Island Senators
5 - 2
Saint John Flames
April 15
Prince Edward Island Senators
6 - 4
Saint John Flames
April 17
Saint John Flames
3 - 1
Prince Edward Island Senators
April 19
Saint John Flames
0 - 2
Prince Edward Island Senators
April 21
Prince Edward Island Senators
1 - 0
Saint John Flames
Prince Edward Island won series 4 – 1
(A2) St. John's Maple Leafs vs. (A3) Fredericton Canadiens[]
April 13
St. John's Maple Leafs
2 - 4
Fredericton Canadiens
April 15
St. John's Maple Leafs
4 - 1
Fredericton Canadiens
April 17
Fredericton Canadiens
3 - 1
St. John's Maple Leafs
April 19
Fredericton Canadiens
5 - 3
St. John's Maple Leafs
April 20
Fredericton Canadiens
2 - 0
St. John's Maple Leafs
Fredericton won series 4 - 1
Northern Division[]
(N1) Albany River Rats vs. (N4) Adirondack Red Wings[]
April 13
Albany River Rats
2 - 1
Adirondack Red Wings
April 15
Albany River Rats
4 - 3
Adirondack Red Wings
April 16
Adirondack Red Wings
2 - 4
Albany River Rats
April 19
Adirondack Red Wings
1 - 5
Albany River Rats
Albany won series 4 – 0
(N2) Portland Pirates vs. (N3) Providence Bruins[]
April 14
Portland Pirates
5 - 6
Providence Bruins
April 15
Portland Pirates
4 - 1
Providence Bruins
April 19
Providence Bruins
7 - 3
Portland Pirates
April 21
Providence Bruins
4 - 5
Portland Pirates
April 23
Portland Pirates
4 - 5
Providence Bruins
April 25
Providence Bruins
1 - 6
Portland Pirates
April 26
Portland Pirates
3 - 6
Providence Bruins
Providence won series 4 - 3
Southern Division[]
(S1) Binghamton Rangers vs. (S4) Rochester Americans[]
April 12
Binghamton Rangers
4 - 3
Rochester Americans
April 14
Binghamton Rangers
3 - 1
Rochester Americans
April 15
Rochester Americans
3 - 2
Binghamton Rangers
April 19
Rochester Americans
0 - 8
Binghamton Rangers
April 21
Binghamton Rangers
4 - 3
OT
Rochester Americans
Binghamton won series 4 - 1
(S2) Cornwall Aces vs. (S3) Hershey Bears[]
April 13
Cornwall Aces
4 - 3
Hershey Bears
April 15
Cornwall Aces
4 - 3
Hershey Bears
April 18
Hershey Bears
2 - 3
OT
Cornwall Aces
April 20
Hershey Bears
4 - 2
Cornwall Aces
April 21
Hershey Bears
6 - 3
Cornwall Aces
April 23
Cornwall Aces
2 - 1
Hershey Bears
Cornwall won series 4 - 2
Division Finals[]
Atlantic Division[]
(A1) Prince Edward Island Senators vs. (A3) Fredericton Canadiens[]
April 26
Prince Edward Island Senators
5 - 3
Fredericton Canadiens
April 28
Prince Edward Island Senators
3 - 7
Fredericton Canadiens
April 30
Fredericton Canadiens
4 - 1
Prince Edward Island Senators
May 2
Fredericton Canadiens
7 - 2
Prince Edward Island Senators
May 5
Prince Edward Island Senators
5 - 4
OT
Fredericton Canadiens
May 7
Fredericton Canadiens
4 - 2
Prince Edward Island Senators
Fredericton won series 4 - 2
Northern Division[]
(N1) Albany River Rats vs. (N3) Providence Bruins[]
April 28
Albany River Rats
6 - 4
Providence Bruins
April 29
Albany River Rats
5 - 4
OT
Providence Bruins
May 2
Providence Bruins
6 - 7
Albany River Rats
May 9
Providence Bruins
5 - 0
Albany River Rats
May 10
Albany River Rats
0 - 4
Providence Bruins
May 13
Providence Bruins
3 - 6
Albany River Rats
Albany won series 4 - 2
Southern Division[]
(S1) Binghamton Rangers vs. (S2) Cornwall Aces[]
April 29
Binghamton Rangers
4 - 5
OT
Cornwall Aces
May 1
Binghamton Rangers
4 - 2
Cornwall Aces
May 3
Cornwall Aces
2 - 0
Binghamton Rangers
May 5
Cornwall Aces
6 - 0
Binghamton Rangers
May 7
Binghamton Rangers
3 - 2
Cornwall Aces
May 10
Cornwall Aces
4 - 2
Binghamton Rangers
Cornwall won series 4 - 2
Semifinal[]
Bye[]
(N1) Albany River Rats 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) Cornwall Aces vs. (A3) Fredericton Canadiens[]
May 14
Fredericton Canadiens
2 - 1
OT
Cornwall Aces
May 16
Cornwall Aces
1 - 3
Fredericton Canadiens
Fredericton won series 2 - 0
Calder Cup Final[]
(N1) Albany River Rats vs. (A3) Fredericton Canadiens[]
