The 1979 Calder Cup playoffs of the American Hockey League began on April 11, 1979.[1] The top three teams from each division qualified for the playoffs. The two division winners earned byes for the Division Semifinals while the other two teams in each division played best-of-five series. The winners played best-of-seven series with the team that received the first round bye in their division. The winners of each Division Final played a best-of-seven series for the Calder Cup. The Calder Cup Final ended on May 11, 1979, with the Maine Mariners defeating the New Haven Nighthawks four games to zero to win the Calder Cup for the second consecutive year, and the third time in team history.[2] Maine also beat new Haven in the 1978 Calder Cup Final.[3]
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In game three of the Southern division final, New Haven scored 15 goals against Binghamton to set an AHL record for most goals scored by one team in one playoff game.[4]
After the 1978–79 AHL regular season, the top three teams from each division qualified for the playoffs. The Maine Mariners finished the regular season with the best overall record for the second consecutive year.[5][6] The two division champions earned byes to the Division Finals.[1]
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.[7]
- Note: Home team is listed first.
Byes
- Maine Mariners (Northern Division regular-season champions)
- New Haven Nighthawks (Southern Division regular-season champions)
Northern Division
(2) New Brunswick Hawks vs. (3) Nova Scotia Voyageurs
April 11 |
New Brunswick Hawks |
|
5 - 4 |
|
Nova Scotia Voyageurs |
|
|
April 12 |
Nova Scotia Voyageurs |
|
5 - 4 |
OT |
New Brunswick Hawks |
|
|
April 14 |
New Brunswick Hawks |
|
4 - 3 |
|
Nova Scotia Voyageurs |
|
|
April 17 |
Nova Scotia Voyageurs |
|
7 - 1 |
|
New Brunswick Hawks |
|
|
April 19 |
New Brunswick Hawks |
|
2 - 4 |
|
Nova Scotia Voyageurs |
|
|
Nova Scotia won series 3 - 2 |
|
|
|
Southern Division
(2) Hershey Bears vs. (3) Binghamton Dusters
April 11 |
Hershey Bears |
|
4 - 3 |
|
Binghamton Dusters |
|
|
April 12 |
Binghamton Dusters |
|
3 - 0 |
|
Hershey Bears |
|
|
April 14 |
Hershey Bears |
|
2 - 6 |
|
Binghamton Dusters |
|
|
April 17 |
Binghamton Dusters |
|
5 - 2 |
|
Hershey Bears |
|
|
Binghamton won series 3 - 1 |
|
|
|
Northern Division
(1) Maine Mariners vs. (3) Nova Scotia Voyageurs
April 22 |
Maine Mariners |
|
7 - 2 |
|
Nova Scotia Voyageurs |
|
|
April 24 |
Maine Mariners |
|
4 - 1 |
|
Nova Scotia Voyageurs |
|
|
April 27 |
Nova Scotia Voyageurs |
|
7 - 5 |
|
Maine Mariners |
|
|
April 28 |
Nova Scotia Voyageurs |
|
2 - 5 |
|
Maine Mariners |
|
|
April 30 |
Maine Mariners |
|
2 - 3 |
|
Nova Scotia Voyageurs |
|
|
May 2 |
Nova Scotia Voyageurs |
|
3 - 5 |
|
Maine Mariners |
|
|
Southern Division
(1) New Haven Nighthawks vs. (3) Binghamton Dusters
April 19 |
New Haven Nighthawks |
|
4 - 2 |
|
Binghamton Dusters |
|
|
April 20 |
Binghamton Dusters |
|
3 - 2 |
|
New Haven Nighthawks |
|
|
April 23 |
New Haven Nighthawks |
|
15 - 1 |
|
Binghamton Dusters |
|
|
April 25 |
Binghamton Dusters |
|
1 - 6 |
|
New Haven Nighthawks |
|
|
April 27 |
New Haven Nighthawks |
|
3 - 4 |
|
Binghamton Dusters |
|
|
April 29 |
Binghamton Dusters |
|
3 - 7 |
|
New Haven Nighthawks |
|
|
New Haven won series 4 - 2 |
|
|
|
(N1) Maine Mariners vs. (S1) New Haven Nighthawks
May 5 |
Maine Mariners |
|
4 - 3 |
OT |
New Haven Nighthawks |
|
|
May 6 |
New Haven Nighthawks |
|
3 - 5 |
|
Maine Mariners |
|
|
May 9 |
Maine Mariners |
|
5 - 2 |
|
New Haven Nighthawks |
|
|
May 11 |
New Haven Nighthawks |
|
4 - 8 |
|
Maine Mariners |
|
|
Preceded by |
Calder Cup playoffs 1979 |
Succeeded by |