The 2008 Calder Cup Playoffs of the American Hockey League began on April 16, 2008. The sixteen teams that qualified, eight from each conference, 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 10, 2008 with the Chicago Wolves defeating the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, four games to two, to win the second Calder Cup in team history. Jason Krog won the Jack A. Butterfield Trophy as playoff MVP, after having already been named the regular-season MVP. Krog also tied the AHL record for most assists in one playoff with 26.
In Game 5 of the East Division Semifinals between the Philadelphia Phantoms and Albany River Rats, Ryan Potulny of Philadelphia scored 2:58 into the fifth overtime period, ending the longest game in AHL history. Chicago's Darren Haydar set two AHL playoff scoring records in Game 2 of the Calder Cup Final by recording his 52nd career AHL playoff goal, as well as his 120th career AHL playoff point. In the same game, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's Alex Goligoski set an AHL record for most points scored by a defenseman in a single post-season with 26. This eclipsed the record set by former Wilkes-Barre/Scranton defenseman Chris Kelleher, who scored 25 points in the 2001 Calder Cup Playoffs. Goligoski extended his record to 28 points before the playoffs ended.
After the 2007–08 AHL regular season, 16 teams qualified for the playoffs. The top four teams from each division qualified for the playoffs, except in the North division where the fourth playoff spot was taken by the fifth-placed team from the West division since the fifth-placed San Antonio Rampage earned more points than the Hamilton Bulldogs during the season. This is because the West division has 8 teams while the other three divisions have 7 teams each. Therefore, this was the only situation in which a crossover was possible. The Providence Bruins were the Eastern Conference regular season champions as well as the Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy winners with the best overall regular season record. The Chicago Wolves 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[]
Atlantic Division[]
(A1) Providence Bruins vs. (A4) Manchester Monarchs[]
April 16
Providence Bruins
3 – 2
OT
Manchester Monarchs
Dunkin' Donuts Center
April 18
Providence Bruins
2 - 0
Manchester Monarchs
Dunkin' Donuts Center
April 19
Manchester Monarchs
2 - 3
OT
Providence Bruins
Verizon Wireless Arena
April 21
Manchester Monarchs
2 - 3
OT
Providence Bruins
Verizon Wireless Arena
Providence wins series 4 – 0
(A2) Hartford Wolf Pack vs. (A3) Portland Pirates[]
April 16
Hartford Wolf Pack
3 - 1
Portland Pirates
XL Center
April 17
Hartford Wolf Pack
2 - 3
2OT
Portland Pirates
XL Center
April 19
Portland Pirates
3 - 2
Hartford Wolf Pack
Cumberland County Civic Center
April 20
Portland Pirates
4 - 3
Hartford Wolf Pack
Cumberland County Civic Center
April 22
Hartford Wolf Pack
2 - 3
Portland Pirates
XL Center
Portland wins series 4 – 1
East Division[]
(E1) Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins vs. (E4) Hershey Bears[]
April 16
Hershey Bears
1 - 2
OT
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
GIANT Center
April 19
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
6 - 2
Hershey Bears
Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza
April 20
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
5 - 1
Hershey Bears
Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza
April 23
Hershey Bears
3 - 2
OT
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
GIANT Center
April 25
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
7 - 3
Hershey Bears
Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton wins series 4 – 1
(E2) Philadelphia Phantoms vs. (E3) Albany River Rats[]
April 16
Albany River Rats
4 - 0
Philadelphia Phantoms
Times Union Center
April 18
Philadelphia Phantoms
3 - 0
Albany River Rats
Wachovia Center
April 20
Philadelphia Phantoms
1 - 4
Albany River Rats
Wachovia Center
April 22
Albany River Rats
1 - 2
Philadelphia Phantoms
Times Union Center
April 24
Albany River Rats
2 - 3
5OT
Philadelphia Phantoms
Times Union Center
April 26
Philadelphia Phantoms
0 - 1
OT
Albany River Rats
Wachovia Center
April 29
Philadelphia Phantoms
2 - 0
Albany River Rats
Wachovia Center
Philadelphia wins series 4 - 3
Western Conference[]
North Division[]
(N1) Toronto Marlies vs. (W5) San Antonio Rampage[]
April 16
Toronto Marlies
4 - 3
San Antonio Rampage
Ricoh Coliseum
April 18
Toronto Marlies
3 - 6
San Antonio Rampage
Ricoh Coliseum
April 21
San Antonio Rampage
3 - 2
Toronto Marlies
AT&T Center
April 23
San Antonio Rampage
2 - 3
Toronto Marlies
AT&T Center
April 25
San Antonio Rampage
1 - 2
Toronto Marlies
AT&T Center
April 27
Toronto Marlies
0 - 3
San Antonio Rampage
Ricoh Coliseum
April 28
Toronto Marlies
2 - 1
San Antonio Rampage
Ricoh Coliseum
Toronto wins series 4 - 3
(N2) Syracuse Crunch vs. (N3) Manitoba Moose[]
April 18
Syracuse Crunch
2 - 1
OT
Manitoba Moose
War Memorial at Oncenter
April 19
Syracuse Crunch
2 - 3
OT
Manitoba Moose
War Memorial at Oncenter
April 22
Manitoba Moose
1 - 2
OT
Syracuse Crunch
MTS Centre
April 25
Manitoba Moose
5 - 2
Syracuse Crunch
MTS Centre
April 26
Manitoba Moose
2 - 3
OT
Syracuse Crunch
MTS Centre
April 28
Syracuse Crunch
3 - 2
OT
Manitoba Moose
War Memorial at Oncenter
Syracuse wins series 4 - 2
West Division[]
(W1) Chicago Wolves vs. (W4) Milwaukee Admirals[]
April 16
Chicago Wolves
3 - 4
OT
Milwaukee Admirals
Allstate Arena
April 18
Chicago Wolves
2 - 1
Milwaukee Admirals
Allstate Arena
April 20
Milwaukee Admirals
3 - 4
OT
Chicago Wolves
Bradley Center
April 23
Milwaukee Admirals
2 - 0
Chicago Wolves
Bradley Center
April 24
Chicago Wolves
4 - 1
Milwaukee Admirals
Allstate Arena
April 26
Milwaukee Admirals
0 - 3
Chicago Wolves
Bradley Center
Chicago wins series 4 - 2
(W2) Rockford IceHogs vs. (W3) Houston Aeros[]
April 18
Rockford IceHogs
3 - 1
Houston Aeros
Rockford MetroCentre
April 19
Rockford IceHogs
0 - 1
2OT
Houston Aeros
Rockford MetroCentre
April 22
Houston Aeros
1 - 2
Rockford IceHogs
Toyota Center (Houston)
April 24
Houston Aeros
1 - 2
Rockford IceHogs
Toyota Center (Houston)
April 25
Houston Aeros
2 - 5
Rockford IceHogs
Toyota Center (Houston)
Rockford wins series 4 - 1
Division Finals[]
Eastern Conference[]
Atlantic Division[]
(A1) Providence Bruins vs. (A3) Portland Pirates[]
April 26
Providence Bruins
4 - 0
Portland Pirates
Dunkin' Donuts Center
April 27
Providence Bruins
7 - 1
Portland Pirates
Dunkin' Donuts Center
May 2
Portland Pirates
4 - 3
OT
Providence Bruins
Cumberland County Civic Center
May 4
Portland Pirates
3 - 2
OT
Providence Bruins
Cumberland County Civic Center
May 6
Portland Pirates
3 - 2
Providence Bruins
Cumberland County Civic Center
May 9
Providence Bruins
4 - 5
Portland Pirates
Dunkin' Donuts Center
Portland wins series 4 - 2
East Division[]
(E1) Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins vs. (E2) Philadelphia Phantoms[]
May 1
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
2 - 5
Philadelphia Phantoms
Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza
May 3
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
5 - 4
OT
Philadelphia Phantoms
Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza
May 5
Philadelphia Phantoms
2 - 3
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
Wachovia Center
May 7
Philadelphia Phantoms
4 - 8
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
Wachovia Center
May 9
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
3 - 1
Philadelphia Phantoms
Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton wins series 4 – 1
Western Conference[]
North Division[]
(N1) Toronto Marlies vs. (N2) Syracuse Crunch[]
May 2
Toronto Marlies
1 - 5
Syracuse Crunch
Ricoh Coliseum
May 4
Toronto Marlies
1 - 3
Syracuse Crunch
Ricoh Coliseum
May 6
Syracuse Crunch
2 - 8
Toronto Marlies
War Memorial at Oncenter
May 7
Syracuse Crunch
5 - 4
OT
Toronto Marlies
War Memorial at Oncenter
May 9
Toronto Marlies
4 - 3
OT
Syracuse Crunch
Ricoh Coliseum
May 10
Syracuse Crunch
2 - 3
Toronto Marlies
War Memorial at Oncenter
May 12
Toronto Marlies
3 - 2
Syracuse Crunch
Ricoh Coliseum
Toronto wins series 4 - 3
West Division[]
(W1) Chicago Wolves vs. (W2) Rockford IceHogs[]
May 1
Chicago Wolves
4 - 1
Rockford IceHogs
Allstate Arena
May 3
Chicago Wolves
7 - 3
Rockford IceHogs
Allstate Arena
May 4
Rockford IceHogs
3 - 1
Chicago Wolves
Rockford MetroCentre
May 7
Rockford IceHogs
3 - 2
Chicago Wolves
Rockford MetroCentre
May 9
Chicago Wolves
1 - 5
Rockford IceHogs
Allstate Arena
May 11
Rockford IceHogs
3 - 4
Chicago Wolves
Rockford MetroCentre
May 13
Chicago Wolves
4 - 1
Rockford IceHogs
Allstate Arena
Chicago wins series 4 - 3
Conference Finals[]
Eastern Conference[]
(E1) Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins vs. (A3) Portland Pirates[]
May 14
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
2 - 0
Portland Pirates
Wachovia Arena at Casey Plaza
May 15
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
2 - 3
Portland Pirates
Wachovia Arena at Casey Plaza
May 18
Portland Pirates
5 - 2
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
Cumberland County Civic Center
May 20
Portland Pirates
3 - 4
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
Cumberland County Civic Center
May 21
Portland Pirates
2 - 1
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
Cumberland County Civic Center
May 23
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
4 - 3
OT
Portland Pirates
Wachovia Arena at Casey Plaza
May 24
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
3 - 2
Portland Pirates
Wachovia Arena at Casey Plaza
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton wins series 4-3
Western Conference[]
(W1) Chicago Wolves vs. (N1) Toronto Marlies[]
May 16
Chicago Wolves
4 - 1
Toronto Marlies
Allstate Arena
May 18
Chicago Wolves
5 - 0
Toronto Marlies
Allstate Arena
May 20
Toronto Marlies
1 - 4
Chicago Wolves
Ricoh Coliseum
May 21
Toronto Marlies
6 - 1
Chicago Wolves
Ricoh Coliseum
May 23
Chicago Wolves
4 - 2
Toronto Marlies
Allstate Arena
Chicago wins series 4 - 1
Calder Cup Final[]
(W1) Chicago Wolves vs. (E1) Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins[]