The 2002 Calder Cup Playoffs of the American Hockey League began on April 9, 2002. Twenty teams, the top ten from each conference, qualified for the playoffs. The seventh-, eighth-, ninth-, and tenth-placed teams in each conference played best-of-3 series in the qualifying round. The four winners, in addition to the other twelve teams that qualified, played best-of-5 series for conference quarterfinals. The remaining 8 teams played best-of-7 series for conference semifinals and conference finals. The conference champions played a best-of-7 series for the Calder Cup. The Calder Cup Final ended on June 3, 2002 with the Chicago Wolves defeating the Bridgeport Sound Tigers four games to one to win the first Calder Cup in team history.
Chicago's Pasi Nurminen won the Jack A. Butterfield Trophy as AHL playoff MVP. Teammate Rob Brown recorded 26 assists, tying an AHL playoff record. The Chicago Wolves as a team also set three AHL playoff records during their Calder Cup run by playing 25 games, winning 17 games in one playoff, and winning 12 home games in one playoff.
After the 2001–02 AHL regular season, 20 teams qualified for the playoffs. The top ten teams from each conference qualified for the playoffs. The Bridgeport Sound Tigers were the Eastern Conference regular season champions as well as the Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy winners with the best overall regular season record. The Syracuse Crunch were the Western Conference regular season champions. Division champions were automatically ranked 1-3.
Eastern Conference[]
Bridgeport Sound Tigers - East Division and Eastern Conference regular season champions; Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy winners, 98 points
During the first three rounds home ice is determined by seeding number, not position on the bracket. In the Finals the team with the better regular season record has home ice.
The top 6 teams in each conference receive byes to the Conference Quarterfinals. In each round, the highest remaining seed in each conference is matched against the lowest remaining seed. In the qualification round, all games are played at the arena of the higher seed. In each round the higher seed 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 for each series after the Qualification Round due to arena scheduling conflicts and travel considerations.
Conference Qualifiers[]
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[]
(7) St. John's Maple Leafs vs. (10) Providence Bruins[]
April 10
St. John's Maple Leafs
3 - 11
Providence Bruins
April 11
St. John's Maple Leafs
4 - 12
Providence Bruins
St. John's won series 2 – 0
1 - at Toronto, Ontario 2 - at Brampton, Ontario
(8) Worcester IceCats vs. (9) Manitoba Moose[]
April 9
Worcester IceCats
2 - 3
Manitoba Moose
DCU Center
April 10
Worcester IceCats
4 - 2
Manitoba Moose
DCU Center
April 11
Worcester IceCats
2 - 3
2OT
Manitoba Moose
DCU Center
Manitoba won series 2 – 1
Western Conference[]
(7) Chicago Wolves vs. (10) Cincinnati Mighty Ducks[]
April 9
Chicago Wolves
2 - 3
Cincinnati Mighty Ducks
Allstate Arena
April 10
Chicago Wolves
3 - 2
2OT
Cincinnati Mighty Ducks
Allstate Arena
April 11
Chicago Wolves
3 - 2
Cincinnati Mighty Ducks
Allstate Arena
Chicago won series 2 – 1
(8) Philadelphia Phantoms vs. (9) Rochester Americans[]
April 9
Philadelphia Phantoms
4 - 2
Rochester Americans
Wachovia Spectrum
April 11
Philadelphia Phantoms
3 - 2
Rochester Americans
Wachovia Spectrum
Philadelphia won series 2 – 0
Conference Quarterfinals[]
Eastern Conference[]
(1) Bridgeport Sound Tigers vs. (9) Manitoba Moose[]
April 14
Bridgeport Sound Tigers
5 - 0
Manitoba Moose
Arena at Harbor Yard
April 16
Bridgeport Sound Tigers
4 - 1
Manitoba Moose
Arena at Harbor Yard
April 18
Manitoba Moose
6 - 2
Bridgeport Sound Tigers
Winnipeg Arena
April 19
Manitoba Moose
0 - 2
Bridgeport Sound Tigers
Winnipeg Arena
Bridgeport won series 3 – 1
(2) Lowell Lock Monsters vs. (7) St. John's Maple Leafs[]
April 14
Lowell Lock Monsters
3 - 2
St. John's Maple Leafs
Tsongas Arena
April 16
Lowell Lock Monsters
4 - 1
St. John's Maple Leafs
Tsongas Arena
April 18
St. John's Maple Leafs
6 - 4
Lowell Lock Monsters
Mile One Stadium
April 20
St. John's Maple Leafs
2 - 0
Lowell Lock Monsters
Mile One Stadium
April 23
Lowell Lock Monsters
0 - 3
St. John's Maple Leafs
Tsongas Arena
St. John's won series 3 – 2
(3) Quebec Citadelles vs. (6) Hamilton Bulldogs[]
April 13
Quebec Citadelles
3 - 4
OT
Hamilton Bulldogs
Colisee Pepsi
April 15
Quebec Citadelles
1 - 3
Hamilton Bulldogs
Colisee Pepsi
April 17
Hamilton Bulldogs
6 - 5
OT
Quebec Citadelles
Copps Coliseum
Hamilton won series 3 – 0
(4) Hartford Wolf Pack vs. (5) Manchester Monarchs[]
April 13
Hartford Wolf Pack
5 - 3
Manchester Monarchs
XL Center
April 14
Hartford Wolf Pack
3 - 4
Manchester Monarchs
XL Center
April 17
Manchester Monarchs
6 - 2
Hartford Wolf Pack
Verizon Wireless Arena
April 19
Manchester Monarchs
1 - 3
Hartford Wolf Pack
Verizon Wireless Arena
April 20
Hartford Wolf Pack
3 - 2
2OT
Manchester Monarchs
XL Center
Hartford won series 3 - 2
Western Conference[]
(1) Syracuse Crunch vs. (8) Philadelphia Phantoms[]
April 13
Syracuse Crunch
5 - 3
Philadelphia Phantoms
War Memorial at Oncenter
April 17
Syracuse Crunch
4 - 1
Philadelphia Phantoms
War Memorial at Oncenter
April 21
Philadelphia Phantoms
1 - 3
Syracuse Crunch
Wachovia Center
Syracuse won series 3 - 0
(2) Grand Rapids Griffins vs. (7) Chicago Wolves[]
April 13
Grand Rapids Griffins
4 - 1
Chicago Wolves
Van Andel Arena
April 15
Grand Rapids Griffins
1 - 5
Chicago Wolves
Van Andel Arena
April 17
Chicago Wolves
2 - 1
Grand Rapids Griffins
Allstate Arena
April 19
Chicago Wolves
0 - 3
Grand Rapids Griffins
Allstate Arena
April 21
Grand Rapids Griffins
2 - 4
Chicago Wolves
Van Andel Arena
Chicago won series 3 - 2
(3) Norfolk Admirals vs. (6) Hershey Bears[]
April 12
Norfolk Admirals
4 - 1
Hershey Bears
Norfolk Scope
April 13
Norfolk Admirals
2 - 3
Hershey Bears
Norfolk Scope
April 17
Hershey Bears
3 - 1
Norfolk Admirals
Hersheypark Arena
April 19
Hershey Bears
2 - 1
2OT
Norfolk Admirals
Hersheypark Arena
Hershey won series 3 - 1
(4) Houston Aeros vs. (5) Utah Grizzlies[]
April 11
Houston Aeros
4 - 0
Utah Grizzlies
Lakewood Church Central Campus
April 13
Houston Aeros
2 - 3
OT
Utah Grizzlies
Lakewood Church Central Campus
April 16
Utah Grizzlies
2 - 1
Houston Aeros
E Center
April 18
Utah Grizzlies
0 - 2
Houston Aeros
E Center
April 20
Houston Aeros
3 - 2
Utah Grizzlies
Lakewood Church Central Campus
Houston won series 3 - 2
Conference Semifinals[]
Eastern Conference[]
(1) Bridgeport Sound Tigers vs. (7) St. John's Maple Leafs[]
April 26
Bridgeport Sound Tigers
4 - 2
St. John's Maple Leafs
Arena at Harbor Yard
April 27
Bridgeport Sound Tigers
2 - 1
OT
St. John's Maple Leafs
Arena at Harbor Yard
April 29
St. John's Maple Leafs
2 - 3
2OT
Bridgeport Sound Tigers
Mile One Stadium
May 1
St. John's Maple Leafs
2 - 7
Bridgeport Sound Tigers
Mile One Stadium
Bridgeport won series 4 - 0
(4) Hartford Wolf Pack vs. (6) Hamilton Bulldogs[]
April 25
Hartford Wolf Pack
2 - 3
OT
Hamilton Bulldogs
XL Center
April 26
Hartford Wolf Pack
3 - 2
2OT
Hamilton Bulldogs
XL Center
April 29
Hamilton Bulldogs
4 - 1
Hartford Wolf Pack
Copps Coliseum
April 30
Hamilton Bulldogs
4 - 2
Hartford Wolf Pack
Copps Coliseum
May 2
Hamilton Bulldogs
5 - 2
Hartford Wolf Pack
Copps Coliseum
Hamilton won series 4 - 1
Western Conference[]
(1) Syracuse Crunch vs. (7) Chicago Wolves[]
April 26
Syracuse Crunch
3 - 0
Chicago Wolves
War Memorial at Oncenter
April 27
Syracuse Crunch
3 - 1
Chicago Wolves
War Memorial at Oncenter
April 29
Chicago Wolves
4 - 2
Syracuse Crunch
Allstate Arena
May 1
Chicago Wolves
3 - 1
Syracuse Crunch
Allstate Arena
May 3
Chicago Wolves
3 - 1
Syracuse Crunch
Allstate Arena
May 5
Syracuse Crunch
6 - 0
Chicago Wolves
War Memorial at Oncenter
May 7
Syracuse Crunch
2 - 6
Chicago Wolves
War Memorial at Oncenter
Chicago won series 4 - 3
(4) Houston Aeros vs. (6) Hershey Bears[]
April 26
Houston Aeros
3 - 0
Hershey Bears
Lakewood Church Central Campus
April 27
Houston Aeros
3 - 2
2OT
Hershey Bears
Lakewood Church Central Campus
May 1
Hershey Bears
2 - 4
Houston Aeros
Hersheypark Arena
May 3
Hershey Bears
1 - 7
Houston Aeros
Hersheypark Arena
Houston won series 4 - 0
Conference finals[]
Eastern Conference[]
(1) Bridgeport Sound Tigers vs. (6) Hamilton Bulldogs[]
May 10
Bridgeport Sound Tigers
3 - 2
Hamilton Bulldogs
Arena at Harbor Yard
May 11
Bridgeport Sound Tigers
3 - 1
Hamilton Bulldogs
Arena at Harbor Yard
May 15
Hamilton Bulldogs
4 - 2
Bridgeport Sound Tigers
Copps Coliseum
May 17
Hamilton Bulldogs
2 - 5
Bridgeport Sound Tigers
Copps Coliseum
May 18
Hamilton Bulldogs
3 - 2
Bridgeport Sound Tigers
Copps Coliseum
May 20
Bridgeport Sound Tigers
2 - 3
OT
Hamilton Bulldogs
Arena at Harbor Yard
May 22
Bridgeport Sound Tigers
3 - 0
Hamilton Bulldogs
Arena at Harbor Yard
Bridgeport won series 4 - 3
Western Conference[]
(4) Houston Aeros vs. (7) Chicago Wolves[]
May 10
Houston Aeros
6 - 4
Chicago Wolves
Lakewood Church Central Campus
May 11
Houston Aeros
3 - 4
2OT
Chicago Wolves
Lakewood Church Central Campus
May 15
Chicago Wolves
4 - 1
Houston Aeros
Allstate Arena
May 17
Chicago Wolves
2 - 1
Houston Aeros
Allstate Arena
May 19
Chicago Wolves
7 - 0
Houston Aeros
Allstate Arena
Chicago won series 4 - 1
Calder Cup Final[]
(E1) Bridgeport Sound Tigers vs. (W7) Chicago Wolves[]