The 2004 Calder Cup Playoffs of the American Hockey League began on April 14, 2004. Twenty teams, the top five from each division, qualified for the playoffs. The fourth- and fifth-placed teams in each division played best-of-3 series in the qualifying round. The four winners, in addition to the other twelve teams that qualified, played best-of-7 series for division semifinals, finals and conference finals. The conference champions played a best-of-7 series for the Calder Cup. The Calder Cup Final ended on June 6, 2004 with the Milwaukee Admirals defeating the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins four games to none to win the first Calder Cup in team history. Milwaukee's Wade Flaherty won the Jack A. Butterfield Trophy as AHL playoff MVP.
Several league records were set during the 2004 Calder Cup Playoffs.
A total of 93 games were played throughout the playoffs, the most of any Calder Cup Playoffs
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton lost 12 times during the 2004 playoffs, the most games lost in a single playoff
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton also played in a record 11 overtime games in one playoff
There were 17 shutouts overall, the most in any single playoff
27 overtime games were played, the most in a single playoff
Milwaukee tied a record by recording six overtime victories in one playoff
Wade Flaherty became the first goaltender to win 16 games in a single playoff
Playoff Seeds[]
After the 2003–04 AHL regular season, 20 teams qualified for the playoffs. The top five teams from each division qualified for the playoffs. The Milwaukee Admirals were the Western Conference regular season champions as well as the Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy winners with the best overall regular season record. The Hartford Wolf Pack were the Eastern Conference regular season champions.
Eastern Conference[]
Atlantic Division[]
Hartford Wolf Pack - Eastern Conference regular season champions, 102 points
In the qualification round all games are played at the arena of the fourth seed. In each round after the Qualification Round, the higher seed receives home ice advantage, meaning they can play a maximum of four home games if the series reaches seven games. There is no set series format for each series after the Qualification Round due to arena scheduling conflicts and travel considerations.
Division 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[]
Atlantic Division[]
(A4) Providence Bruins vs. (A5) Portland Pirates[]
April 15
Providence Bruins
1 - 7
Portland Pirates
Dunkin' Donuts Center
April 16
Providence Bruins
2 - 6
Portland Pirates
Dunkin' Donuts Center
Portland won series 2 – 0
East Division[]
(E4) Binghamton Senators vs. (E5) Norfolk Admirals[]
April 14
Binghamton Senators
0 - 3
Norfolk Admirals
Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena
April 16
Binghamton Senators
0 - 3
Norfolk Admirals
Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena
Norfolk won series 2 – 0
Western Conference[]
North Division[]
(N4) Cleveland Barons vs. (N5) Toronto Roadrunners[]
April 15
Cleveland Barons
1 - 3
Toronto Roadrunners
at Strongsville, Ohio
April 17
Cleveland Barons
2 - 1
2OT
Toronto Roadrunners
at Strongsville, Ohio
April 18
Cleveland Barons
6 - 3
Toronto Roadrunners
at Strongsville, Ohio
Cleveland won series 2 – 1
West Division[]
(W4) Houston Aeros vs. (W5) Cincinnati Mighty Ducks[]
April 15
Houston Aeros
3 - 1
Cincinnati Mighty Ducks
Toyota Center (Houston)
April 17
Houston Aeros
6 - 3
Cincinnati Mighty Ducks
Toyota Center (Houston)
Cincinnati won series 2 – 0
Division Semifinals[]
Eastern Conference[]
Atlantic Division[]
(A1) Hartford Wolf Pack vs. (A5) Portland Pirates[]
April 20
Hartford Wolf Pack
1 - 3
Portland Pirates
XL Center
April 21
Hartford Wolf Pack
1 - 0
Portland Pirates
XL Center
April 23
Portland Pirates
1 - 2
2OT
Hartford Wolf Pack
Cumberland County Civic Center
April 25
Portland Pirates
3 - 5
Hartford Wolf Pack
Cumberland County Civic Center
April 28
Hartford Wolf Pack
4 - 0
Portland Pirates
XL Center
Hartford won series 4 – 1
(A2) Manchester Monarchs vs. (A3) Worcester IceCats[]
April 15
Manchester Monarchs
1 - 2
Worcester IceCats
Verizon Wireless Arena
April 17
Manchester Monarchs
2 - 3
OT
Worcester IceCats
Verizon Wireless Arena
April 18
Worcester IceCats
0 - 2
Manchester Monarchs
DCU Center
April 20
Worcester IceCats
0 - 6
Manchester Monarchs
DCU Center
April 22
Manchester Monarchs
2 - 3
3OT
Worcester IceCats
Verizon Wireless Arena
April 24
Worcester IceCats
6 - 1
Manchester Monarchs
DCU Center
Worcester won series 4 – 2
East Division[]
(E1) Philadelphia Phantoms vs. (E5) Norfolk Admirals[]
April 21
Philadelphia Phantoms
2 - 1
Norfolk Admirals
Wachovia Center
April 23
Philadelphia Phantoms
1 - 2
OT
Norfolk Admirals
Wachovia Center
April 27
Norfolk Admirals
1 - 3
Philadelphia Phantoms
Norfolk Scope
April 28
Norfolk Admirals
1 - 2
3OT
Philadelphia Phantoms
Norfolk Scope
April 30
Norfolk Admirals
2 - 1
Philadelphia Phantoms
Norfolk Scope
May 1
Philadelphia Phantoms
3 - 2
Norfolk Admirals
Wachovia Center
Philadelphia won series 4 – 2
(E2) Bridgeport Sound Tigers vs. (E3) Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins[]
April 15
Bridgeport Sound Tigers
5 - 4
OT
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
Arena at Harbor Yard
April 17
Bridgeport Sound Tigers
5 - 4
OT
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
Arena at Harbor Yard
April 18
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
3 - 2
OT
Bridgeport Sound Tigers
Wachovia Arena at Casey Plaza
April 20
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
2 - 4
Bridgeport Sound Tigers
Wachovia Arena at Casey Plaza
April 22
Bridgeport Sound Tigers
1 - 2
OT
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
Arena at Harbor Yard
April 23
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
5 - 0
Bridgeport Sound Tigers
Wachovia Arena at Casey Plaza
April 25
Bridgeport Sound Tigers
2 - 3
OT
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
Arena at Harbor Yard
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton won series 4 - 3
Western Conference[]
North Division[]
(N1) Hamilton Bulldogs vs. (N4) Cleveland Barons[]
April 20
Hamilton Bulldogs
4 - 0
Cleveland Barons
[Copps Coliseum
April 25
Hamilton Bulldogs
3 - 4
OT
Cleveland Barons
[Copps Coliseum
April 27
Cleveland Barons
3 - 5
Hamilton Bulldogs
Quicken Loans Arena
April 29
Cleveland Barons
3 - 4
Hamilton Bulldogs
Quicken Loans Arena
April 30
Hamilton Bulldogs
1 - 4
Cleveland Barons
[Copps Coliseum
May 2
Cleveland Barons
1 - 3
Hamilton Bulldogs
Quicken Loans Arena
Hamilton won series 4 - 2
(N2) Syracuse Crunch vs. (N3) Rochester Americans[]
April 16
Syracuse Crunch
3 - 2
Rochester Americans
War Memorial at Oncenter
April 17
Syracuse Crunch
0 - 6
Rochester Americans
War Memorial at Oncenter
April 21
Rochester Americans
2 - 3
Syracuse Crunch
Blue Cross Arena
April 23
Rochester Americans
2 - 3
Syracuse Crunch
Blue Cross Arena
April 25
Syracuse Crunch
0 - 6
Rochester Americans
War Memorial at Oncenter
April 28
Rochester Americans
7 - 5
Syracuse Crunch
Blue Cross Arena
May 1
Syracuse Crunch
3 - 4
OT
Rochester Americans
War Memorial at Oncenter
Rochester won series 4 - 3
West Division[]
(W1) Milwaukee Admirals vs. (W5) Cincinnati Mighty Ducks[]
April 21
Milwaukee Admirals
4 - 5
OT
Cincinnati Mighty Ducks
Bradley Center
April 23
Milwaukee Admirals
6 - 0
Cincinnati Mighty Ducks
Bradley Center
April 24
Cincinnati Mighty Ducks
1 - 0
Milwaukee Admirals
Cincinnati Gardens
April 26
Cincinnati Mighty Ducks
3 - 4
OT
Milwaukee Admirals
Cincinnati Gardens
April 28
Cincinnati Mighty Ducks
3 - 1
Milwaukee Admirals
Cincinnati Gardens
April 30
Milwaukee Admirals
6 - 3
Cincinnati Mighty Ducks
Bradley Center
May 1
Milwaukee Admirals
5 - 1
Cincinnati Mighty Ducks
Bradley Center
Milwaukee won series 4 - 3
(W2) Grand Rapids Griffins vs. (W3) Chicago Wolves[]
April 16
Grand Rapids Griffins
3 - 4
OT
Chicago Wolves
Van Andel Arena
April 18
Grand Rapids Griffins
0 - 1
Chicago Wolves
Van Andel Arena
April 21
Chicago Wolves
4 - 1
Grand Rapids Griffins
Allstate Arena
April 23
Chicago Wolves
8 - 2
Grand Rapids Griffins
Allstate Arena
Chicago won series 4 - 0
Division Finals[]
Eastern Conference[]
Atlantic Division[]
(A1) Hartford Wolf Pack vs. (A3) Worcester IceCats[]
April 30
Hartford Wolf Pack
3 - 1
Worcester IceCats
XL Center
May 1
Worcester IceCats
0 - 3
Hartford Wolf Pack
DCU Center
May 2
Worcester IceCats
3 - 4
OT
Hartford Wolf Pack
DCU Center
May 5
Hartford Wolf Pack
4 - 3
3OT
Worcester IceCats
XL Center
Hartford won series 4 - 0
East Division[]
(E1) Philadelphia Phantoms vs. (E3) Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins[]
May 5
Philadelphia Phantoms
4 - 5
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
Wachovia Center
May 7
Philadelphia Phantoms
3 - 2
OT
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
Wachovia Center
May 8
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
3 - 0
Philadelphia Phantoms
Wachovia Arena at Casey Plaza
May 10
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
2 - 0
Philadelphia Phantoms
Wachovia Arena at Casey Plaza
May 12
Philadelphia Phantoms
4 - 2
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
Wachovia Center
May 14
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
3 - 1
Philadelphia Phantoms
Wachovia Arena at Casey Plaza
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton won series 4 - 2
Western Conference[]
North Division[]
(N1) Hamilton Bulldogs vs. (N3) Rochester Americans[]
May 5
Hamilton Bulldogs
0 - 2
Rochester Americans
Copps Coliseum
May 6
Hamilton Bulldogs
1 - 4
Rochester Americans
Copps Coliseum
May 8
Rochester Americans
5 - 1
Hamilton Bulldogs
Blue Cross Arena
May 9
Rochester Americans
3 - 1
Hamilton Bulldogs
Blue Cross Arena
Rochester won series 4 - 0
West Division[]
(W1) Milwaukee Admirals vs. (W3) Chicago Wolves[]
May 5
Milwaukee Admirals
2 - 1
2OT
Chicago Wolves
Bradley Center
May 7
Milwaukee Admirals
5 - 3
Chicago Wolves
Bradley Center
May 8
Chicago Wolves
3 - 1
Milwaukee Admirals
Allstate Arena
May 10
Chicago Wolves
2 - 5
Milwaukee Admirals
Allstate Arena
May 12
Milwaukee Admirals
1 - 2
Chicago Wolves
Bradley Center
May 14
Chicago Wolves
3 - 4
2OT
Milwaukee Admirals
Allstate Arena
Milwaukee won series 4 - 2
Conference finals[]
Eastern Conference[]
(A1) Hartford Wolf Pack vs. (E3) Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins[]
May 18
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
3 - 1
Hartford Wolf Pack
Wachovia Arena at Casey Plaza
May 20
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
2 - 3
OT
Hartford Wolf Pack
Wachovia Arena at Casey Plaza
May 22
Hartford Wolf Pack
3 - 2
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
XL Center
May 23
Hartford Wolf Pack
4 - 5
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
XL Center
May 25
Hartford Wolf Pack
3 - 4
OT
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
XL Center
May 28
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
1 - 4
Hartford Wolf Pack
Wachovia Arena at Casey Plaza
May 29
Hartford Wolf Pack
1 - 2
OT
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
XL Center
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton won series 4 - 3
Western Conference[]
(W1) Milwaukee Admirals vs. (N3) Rochester Americans[]
May 18
Milwaukee Admirals
2 - 1
Rochester Americans
Bradley Center
May 20
Milwaukee Admirals
1 - 4
OT
Rochester Americans
Bradley Center
May 22
Rochester Americans
1 - 21
OT
Milwaukee Admirals
May 23
Rochester Americans
2 - 31
Milwaukee Admirals
May 26
Rochester Americans
1 - 42
Milwaukee Admirals
Milwaukee won series 4 - 1
1 - Game played at Buffalo, NY 2 - Game played at Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial
Calder Cup Final[]
(W1) Milwaukee Admirals vs. (E3) Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins[]