The 2001 Calder Cup Playoffs of the American Hockey League began on April 10, 2001. The sixteen teams that qualified, eight from each conference, played best-of-5 series for division semifinals and best-of-7 series for division finals and conference finals. The conference champions played a best-of-7 series for the Calder Cup. The Calder Cup Final ended on May 28, 2001 with the Saint John Flames defeating the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins four games to two to win the first Calder Cup in team history.
Saint John's Steve Begin won the Jack A. Butterfield Trophy as AHL playoff MVP. Wilkes-Barre Scranton defenseman Chris Kelleher set an AHL playoff record for points scored by a defenseman in one playoff with 25 (7 goals, 18 assists). This record was broken in 2008 by Wilkes-Barre/Scranton defenseman Alex Goligoski.
After the 2000–01 AHL regular season, 16 teams qualified for the playoffs. The top four teams from each division qualified for the playoffs. However, due to the uneven number of teams in each division, it was possible for teams to crossover to another division for the playoffs. The fifth-placed team in the New England Division could qualify for the fourth playoff spot in the Canadian Division if they earned more points than the fourth-placed team in the Canadian Division. The fifth-placed team in the Mid-Atlantic Division could qualify for the fourth playoff spot in the South Division if they earned more points than the fourth-placed team in the South Division. The Worcester IceCats were the Eastern Conference regular season champions as well as the Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy winners with the best overall regular season record. The Rochester Americans were the Western Conference regular season champions.
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.
Division Semifinals[]
Note 1: All times are in Eastern Time (UTC-4).
Note 2: Game times in italics signify games to be played only if necessary.
Note 3: Home team is listed first.
Eastern Conference[]
Canadian Division[]
(C1) Saint John Flames vs. (N5) Portland Pirates[]
April 12
Saint John Flames
3 - 0
Portland Pirates
Harbour Station
April 13
Saint John Flames
4 - 3
Portland Pirates
Harbour Station
April 15
Portland Pirates
2 - 3
3OT
Saint John Flames
Cumberland County Civic Center
Saint John won series 3 – 0
(C2) Quebec Citadelles vs. (C3) St. John's Maple Leafs[]
April 11
Quebec Citadelles
5 - 1
St. John's Maple Leafs
Colisee Pepsi
April 13
Quebec Citadelles
4 - 3
St. John's Maple Leafs
Colisee Pepsi
April 15
St. John's Maple Leafs
3 - 2
OT
Quebec Citadelles
Memorial Stadium (St. John's)
April 16
St. John's Maple Leafs
0 - 4
Quebec Citadelles
Memorial Stadium (St. John's)
Quebec won series 3 - 1
New England Division[]
(N1) Worcester IceCats vs. (N4) Lowell Lock Monsters[]
April 11
Worcester IceCats
4 - 3
OT
Lowell Lock Monsters
DCU Center
April 13
Worcester IceCats
4 - 3
Lowell Lock Monsters
DCU Center
April 15
Lowell Lock Monsters
4 - 0
Worcester IceCats
Tsongas Arena
April 17
Lowell Lock Monsters
2 - 3
OT
Worcester IceCats
Tsongas Arena
Worcester won series 3 – 1
(N2) Hartford Wolf Pack vs. (N3) Providence Bruins[]
April 11
Hartford Wolf Pack
3 - 1
Providence Bruins
XL Center
April 13
Hartford Wolf Pack
2 - 1
Providence Bruins
XL Center
April 14
Providence Bruins
5 - 4
OT
Hartford Wolf Pack
Dunkin' Donuts Center
April 16
Providence Bruins
4 - 3
Hartford Wolf Pack
Dunkin' Donuts Center
April 18
Hartford Wolf Pack
1 - 2
Providence Bruins
XL Center
Providence won series 3 - 2
Western Conference[]
Mid-Atlantic Division[]
(M1) Rochester Americans vs. (M4) Philadelphia Phantoms[]
April 11
Rochester Americans
4 - 3
OT
Philadelphia Phantoms
Blue Cross Arena
April 13
Philadelphia Phantoms
2 - 1
OT
Rochester Americans
Wachovia Spectrum
April 14
Rochester Americans
0 - 2
Philadelphia Phantoms
Blue Cross Arena
April 16
Philadelphia Phantoms
4 - 2
Rochester Americans
Wachovia Spectrum
Philadelphia won series 3 - 1
(M2) Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins vs. (M3) Syracuse Crunch[]
April 11
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
1 - 2
OT
Syracuse Crunch
Wachovia Arena at Casey Plaza
April 13
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
5 - 2
Syracuse Crunch
Wachovia Arena at Casey Plaza
April 14
Syracuse Crunch
4 - 5
OT
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
War Memorial at Oncenter
April 16
Syracuse Crunch
3 - 2
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
War Memorial at Oncenter
April 18
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
6 - 2
Syracuse Crunch
Wachovia Arena at Casey Plaza
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton won series 3 - 2
Southern Division[]
(S1) Kentucky Thoroughblades vs. (M5) Hershey Bears[]
April 10
Kentucky Thoroughblades
2 - 3
OT
Hershey Bears
Rupp Arena
April 12
Kentucky Thoroughblades
2 - 3
OT
Hershey Bears
Rupp Arena
April 14
Hershey Bears
2 - 1
Kentucky Thoroughblades
Hersheypark Arena
Hershey won series 3 - 0
(S2) Cincinnati Mighty Ducks vs. (S3) Norfolk Admirals[]
April 11
Cincinnati Mighty Ducks
4 - 51
OT
Norfolk Admirals
April 13
Cincinnati Mighty Ducks
3 - 62
Norfolk Admirals
April 14
Norfolk Admirals
3 - 4
Cincinnati Mighty Ducks
Norfolk Scope
April 15
Norfolk Admirals
4 - 3
OT
Cincinnati Mighty Ducks
Norfolk Scope
Norfolk won series 4 - 3
1 - at Cincinnati Gardens 2 - at Norfolk, Virginia
Division Finals[]
Eastern Conference[]
Canadian Division[]
(C1) Saint John Flames vs. (C2) Quebec Citadelles[]
April 19
Saint John Flames
4 - 0
Quebec Citadelles
Harbour Station
April 23
Saint John Flames
5 - 2
Quebec Citadelles
Harbour Station
April 25
Quebec Citadelles
3 - 2
Saint John Flames
Colisee Pepsi
April 27
Quebec Citadelles
4 - 5
OT
Saint John Flames
Colisee Pepsi
April 29
Quebec Citadelles
1 - 3
Saint John Flames
Colisee Pepsi
Saint John won series 4 - 1
New England Division[]
(N1) Worcester IceCats vs. (N3) Providence Bruins[]
April 21
Worcester IceCats
0 - 2
Providence Bruins
DCU Center
April 22
Worcester IceCats
3 - 4
Providence Bruins
DCU Center
April 24
Providence Bruins
0 - 5
Worcester IceCats
Dunkin' Donuts Center
April 27
Providence Bruins
2 - 4
Worcester IceCats
Dunkin' Donuts Center
April 28
Worcester IceCats
3 - 1
Providence Bruins
DCU Center
April 30
Providence Bruins
1 - 0
Worcester IceCats
Dunkin' Donuts Center
May 1
Worcester IceCats
2 - 3
OT
Providence Bruins
DCU Center
Providence won series 4 - 3
Western Conference[]
Mid-Atlantic Division[]
(M2) Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins vs. (M4) Philadelphia Phantoms[]
April 21
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
4 - 3
Philadelphia Phantoms
Wachovia Arena at Casey Plaza
April 23
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
4 - 2
Philadelphia Phantoms
Wachovia Arena at Casey Plaza
April 25
Philadelphia Phantoms
0 - 3
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
Wachovia Center
April 27
Philadelphia Phantoms
8 - 2
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
Wachovia Center
April 28
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
2 - 3
OT
Philadelphia Phantoms
Wachovia Arena at Casey Plaza
May 1
Philadelphia Phantoms
2 - 3
OT
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
Wachovia Center
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton won series 4 - 2
Southern Division[]
(S3) Norfolk Admirals vs. (M5) Hershey Bears[]
April 20
Norfolk Admirals
4 - 2
Hershey Bears
at Richmond, Virginia
April 21
Norfolk Admirals
1 - 3
Hershey Bears
at Richmond, Virginia
April 25
Hershey Bears
2 - 1
OT
Norfolk Admirals
Hersheypark Arena
April 27
Hershey Bears
3 - 1
Norfolk Admirals
Hersheypark Arena
April 29
Norfolk Admirals
0 - 2
Hershey Bears
at Richmond, Virginia
Hershey won series 4 - 1
Conference finals[]
Eastern Conference[]
(C1) Saint John Flames vs. (N3) Providence Bruins[]
May 4
Saint John Flames
2 - 0
Providence Bruins
Harbour Station
May 6
Saint John Flames
5 - 1
Providence Bruins
Harbour Station
May 9
Providence Bruins
2 - 5
Saint John Flames
May 11
Providence Bruins
4 - 1
Saint John Flames
May 12
Providence Bruins
2 - 3
Saint John Flames
Saint John won series 4 - 1
Western Conference[]
(M2) Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins vs. (M5) Hershey Bears[]
May 5
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
2 - 1
OT
Hershey Bears
Wachovia Arena at Casey Plaza
May 7
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
2 - 1
2OT
Hershey Bears
Wachovia Arena at Casey Plaza
May 9
Hershey Bears
4 - 5
OT
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
Hersheypark Arena
May 12
Hershey Bears
1 - 3
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
Hersheypark Arena
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton won series 4 - 0
Calder Cup Final[]
(C1) Saint John Flames vs. (M2) Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins[]