The 1994 Calder Cup Playoffs of the American Hockey League began on April 13, 1994. 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 29, 1994 with the Portland Pirates defeating the Moncton Hawks four games to two to win the first Calder Cup in team history. Portland's Olaf Kolzig won the Jack A. Butterfield Trophy as AHL playoff MVP.
Portland's Mike Boback tied an AHL playoff record for points in a single playoff game by scoring 7 points (3 goals, 4 assists) in game 5 of the Northern division semifinal against the Albany River Rats.
After the 1993-94 AHL regular season, 12 teams qualified for the playoffs. The top four teams from each division qualified for the playoffs. The St. John's Maple Leafs finished the regular season with the best overall record.
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.
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) St. John's Maple Leafs vs. (A4) Cape Breton Oilers[]
April 13
St. John's Maple Leafs
4 - 2
Cape Breton Oilers
April 15
St. John's Maple Leafs
4 - 3
Cape Breton Oilers
April 18
Cape Breton Oilers
6 - 5
St. John's Maple Leafs
April 20
Cape Breton Oilers
2 - 8
St. John's Maple Leafs
April 22
Cape Breton Oilers
4 - 1
St. John's Maple Leafs
St. John's won series 4 – 1
(A2) Saint John Flames vs. (A3) Moncton Hawks[]
April 13
Saint John Flames
3 - 2
Moncton Hawks
April 15
Saint John Flames
5 - 4
Moncton Hawks
April 17
Moncton Hawks
3 - 2
Saint John Flames
April 19
Moncton Hawks
3 - 2
Saint John Flames
April 21
Saint John Flames
5 - 2
Moncton Hawks
April 25
Moncton Hawks
2 - 1
Saint John Flames
April 27
Saint John Flames
1 - 3
Moncton Hawks
Moncton won series 4 - 3
Northern Division[]
(N1) Adirondack Red Wings vs. (N4) Springfield Indians[]
April 15
Adirondack Red Wings
2 - 7
Springfield Indians
April 16
Adirondack Red Wings
3 - 5
Springfield Indians
April 20
Springfield Indians
6 - 9
Adirondack Red Wings
April 22
Springfield Indians
1 - 5
Adirondack Red Wings
April 24
Adirondack Red Wings
3 - 1
Springfield Indians
April 25
Springfield Indians
2 - 3
Adirondack Red Wings
Adirondack won series 4 – 2
The deciding game was the last for the sixty year old Springfield Indians franchise, which moved to Worcester, Massachusetts, in the offseason to become the Worcester IceCats.
(N2) Portland Pirates vs. (N3) Albany River Rats[]
April 15
Portland Pirates
1 - 3
Albany River Rats
April 16
Portland Pirates
5 - 3
Albany River Rats
April 20
Albany River Rats
1 - 2
Portland Pirates
April 22
Albany River Rats
2 - 5
Portland Pirates
April 23
Albany River Rats
2 - 9
Portland Pirates
Portland won series 4 - 1
Southern Division[]
(S1) Hershey Bears vs. (S4) Rochester Americans[]
April 13
Hershey Bears
5 - 3
Rochester Americans
April 15
Hershey Bears
5 - 4
OT
Rochester Americans
April 17
Rochester Americans
1 - 4
Hershey Bears
April 20
Rochester Americans
3 - 4
OT
Hershey Bears
Hershey won series 4 - 0
(S2) Hamilton Canucks vs. (S3) Cornwall Aces[]
April 13
Hamilton Canucks
5 - 8
Cornwall Aces
April 15
Hamilton Canucks
3 - 4
Cornwall Aces
April 18
Cornwall Aces
2 - 1
OT
Hamilton Canucks
April 20
Cornwall Aces
6 - 4
Hamilton Canucks
Cornwall won series 4 - 0
Division Finals[]
Atlantic Division[]
(A1) St. John's Maple Leafs vs. (A3) Moncton Hawks[]
April 30
St. John's Maple Leafs
5 - 3
Moncton Hawks
May 2
St. John's Maple Leafs
1 - 2
OT
Moncton Hawks
May 4
Moncton Hawks
3 - 6
St. John's Maple Leafs
May 6
Moncton Hawks
4 - 3
OT
St. John's Maple Leafs
May 8
Moncton Hawks
5 - 0
St. John's Maple Leafs
May 10
St. John's Maple Leafs
4 - 5
Moncton Hawks
Moncton won series 4 - 2
Northern Division[]
(N1) Adirondack Red Wings vs. (N2) Portland Pirates[]
April 29
Adirondack Red Wings
4 - 2
Portland Pirates
April 30
Adirondack Red Wings
3 - 5
Portland Pirates
May 4
Portland Pirates
4 - 3
Adirondack Red Wings
May 6
Portland Pirates
1 - 5
Adirondack Red Wings
May 7
Portland Pirates
4 - 2
Adirondack Red Wings
May 10
Adirondack Red Wings
3 - 4
OT
Portland Pirates
Portland won series 4 - 2
Southern Division[]
(S1) Hershey Bears vs. (S3) Cornwall Aces[]
April 27
Hershey Bears
4 - 2
Cornwall Aces
April 29
Hershey Bears
1 - 5
Cornwall Aces
May 2
Cornwall Aces
1 - 3
Hershey Bears
May 4
Cornwall Aces
4 - 3
OT
Hershey Bears
May 6
Cornwall Aces
3 - 2
OT
Hershey Bears
May 8
Hershey Bears
4 - 3
Cornwall Aces
May 11
Hershey Bears
3 - 4
Cornwall Aces
Cornwall won series 4 - 3
Semifinal[]
Bye[]
(N2) Portland Pirates 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.