First-round playoff schedules announced


SPRINGFIELD, Mass. … The American Hockey League has released the following schedules for the conference quarterfinal round of the 2013 Calder Cup Playoffs. The best-of-five first-round series are in either a 2-2-1 format or a 2-3 format; in the 2-3 format, the higher seed has the option of playing the first two games or the last three games at home.

Eastern Conference Quarterfinals – Series “A” (best-of-5)
1-Providence Bruins vs. 8-Hershey Bears
Game 1 – Fri., Apr. 26 – Hershey at Providence, 7:05
Game 2 – Sun., Apr. 28 – Hershey at Providence, 3:05
Game 3 – Sat., May 4 – Providence at Hershey, 7:00
*Game 4 – Sun., May 5 – Providence at Hershey, 5:00
*Game 5 – Wed., May 8 – Hershey at Providence, 7:05

Eastern Conference Quarterfinals – Series “B” (best-of-5)
2-Springfield Falcons vs. 7-Manchester Monarchs
Game 1 – Sat., Apr. 27 – Manchester at Springfield, 7:00
Game 2 – Sun., Apr. 28 – Manchester at Springfield, 4:00
Game 3 – Thurs., May 2 – Springfield at Manchester, 7:00
*Game 4 – Sat., May 4 – Springfield at Manchester, 7:00
*Game 5 – Sun., May 5 – Manchester at Springfield, 4:00

Eastern Conference Quarterfinals – Series “C” (best-of-5)
3-Syracuse Crunch vs. 6-Portland Pirates
Game 1 – Sat., Apr. 27 – Portland at Syracuse, 7:30
Game 2 – Sun., Apr. 28 – Portland at Syracuse, 7:30
Game 3 – Thurs., May 2 – Syracuse at Portland, 7:00
*Game 4 – Fri., May 3 – Syracuse at Portland, 7:00
*Game 5 – Sun., May 5 – Portland at Syracuse, 7:30

Eastern Conference Quarterfinals – Series “D” (best-of-5)
4-Binghamton Senators vs. 5-Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
Game 1 – Sat., Apr. 27 – W-B/Scranton at Binghamton, 7:05
Game 2 – Sun., Apr. 28 – W-B/Scranton at Binghamton, 5:05
Game 3 – Thurs., May 2 – Binghamton at W-B/Scranton, 7:05
*Game 4 – Sat., May 4 – Binghamton at W-B/Scranton, 7:05
*Game 5 – Mon., May 6 – W-B/Scranton at Binghamton, 7:05

Western Conference Quarterfinals – Series “E” (best-of-5)
1-Texas Stars vs. 8-Milwaukee Admirals
Game 1 – Fri., Apr. 26 – Texas at Milwaukee, 8:00
Game 2 – Sat., Apr. 27 – Texas at Milwaukee, 8:00
Game 3 – Wed., May 1 – Milwaukee at Texas, 8:30
*Game 4 – Fri., May 3 – Milwaukee at Texas, 8:30
*Game 5 – Sat., May 4 – Milwaukee at Texas, 8:00

Western Conference Quarterfinals – Series “F” (best-of-5)
2-Toronto Marlies vs. 7-Rochester Americans
Game 1 – Sat., Apr. 27 – Rochester at Toronto, 3:00
Game 2 – Sun., Apr. 28 – Rochester at Toronto, 3:00
Game 3 – Wed., May 1 – Toronto at Rochester, 7:00
*Game 4 – Thurs., May 2 – Toronto at Rochester, 7:00
*Game 5 – Sat., May 4 – Rochester at Toronto, 3:00

Western Conference Quarterfinals – Series “G” (best-of-5)
3-Grand Rapids Griffins vs. 6-Houston Aeros
Game 1 – Fri., Apr. 26 – Grand Rapids at Houston, 8:05
Game 2 – Sun., Apr. 28 – Grand Rapids at Houston, 6:05
Game 3 – Wed., May 1 – Houston at Grand Rapids, 7:00
*Game 4 – Fri., May 3 – Houston at Grand Rapids, 7:00
*Game 5 – Sat., May 4 – Houston at Grand Rapids, 7:00

Western Conference Quarterfinals – Series “H” (best-of-5)
4-Charlotte Checkers vs. 5-Oklahoma City Barons
Game 1 – Fri., Apr. 26 – Charlotte at Oklahoma City, 8:00
Game 2 – Sat., Apr. 27 – Charlotte at Oklahoma City, 8:00
Game 3 – Wed., May 1 – Oklahoma City at Charlotte, 7:00
*Game 4 – Fri., May 3 – Oklahoma City at Charlotte, 7:00
*Game 5 – Sat., May 4 – Oklahoma City at Charlotte, 7:00

*if necessary... All times Eastern

In operation since 1936, the American Hockey League continues to serve as the top development league for all 30 National Hockey League teams. Nearly 90 percent of all players competing in the NHL are AHL graduates, and through the years the American Hockey League has been home to more than 100 honored members of the Hockey Hall of Fame. Sixteen clubs will continue to vie for the league’s coveted championship trophy when the 2013 Calder Cup Playoffs get underway on Friday.