AHL playoffs 2017: Matchups, dates, times and series info as Calder Cup race begins

The Lehigh Valley Phantoms are set for the postseason for the first time in eight seasons, and they’ll have home ice advantage as they embark on a tough first round matchup against the rival Hershey Bears.

The Atlantic Division was the toughest division in the AHL this season, and much like the Metropolitan Division playoffs in the NHL, it’s unfortunate that only one of four teams — the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, the Providence Bruins, the Bears and the Phantoms — will come out of this side of the bracket.

But that’s the reality these teams face as they kick off the 2017 Calder Cup Playoffs this week. The Penguins won the division title and will face the Bruins, while the Phantoms grabbed the second place position and will face No. 3 Hershey.

Here’s the schedule for Bears vs. Phantoms. It’s a best-of-five series here in the Divisional Semifinal round, with Games 4 and 5 played if necessary.

Atlantic Division Semifinals
No. 2 Lehigh Valley Phantoms vs. No. 3 Hershey Bears

• Game 1 – Fri., Apr. 21 – Hershey at Lehigh Valley, 7:05
• Game 2 – Sat., Apr. 22 – Hershey at Lehigh Valley, 7:05
• Game 3 – Wed., Apr. 26 – Lehigh Valley at Hershey, 7:00*
• Game 4 – Sat., Apr. 29 – Lehigh Valley at Hershey, 7:00*
• Game 5 – Sun., Apr. 30 – Hershey at Lehigh Valley, 5:05*/

Below is the full AHL playoff schedule. All times are Eastern.

Some series are in the 2-2-1 format, in which two games are played in each city with Game 5 played at the higher seed. Due to travel concerns, some series are 2-3, with the higher seed choosing whether to host the first two games or host the last three.

Atlantic Division Semifinals
No. 1 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins vs. No. 4 Providence Bruins

• Game 1 – Fri., Apr. 21 – W-B/Scranton at Providence, 7:05
• Game 2 – Sun., Apr. 23 – W-B/Scranton at Providence, 3:05
• Game 3 – Thu., Apr. 27 – Providence at W-B/Scranton, 7:05*
• Game 4 – Fri., Apr. 28 – Providence at W-B/Scranton, 7:05*
• Game 5 – Sun., Apr. 30 – Providence at W-B/Scranton, 3:05*/

North Division Semifinals
No. 1 Syracuse Crunch vs. No. 4 St. John’s IceCaps

• Game 1 – Fri., Apr. 21 – Syracuse at St. John’s, 6:00
• Game 2 – Sat., Apr. 22 – Syracuse at St. John’s, 6:00
• Game 3 – Wed., Apr. 26 – St. John’s at Syracuse, 7:00*
• Game 4 – Fri., Apr. 28 – St. John’s at Syracuse, 7:00*
• Game 5 – Sat., Apr. 29 – St. John’s at Syracuse, 7:00*/

North Division Semifinals
No. 2 Toronto Marlies vs. No. 3 Albany Devils

• Game 1 – Thu., Apr. 20 – Toronto at Albany, 7:00
• Game 2 – Sat., Apr. 22 – Toronto at Albany, 5:00
• Game 3 – Wed., Apr. 26 – Albany at Toronto, 7:00*
• Game 4 – Fri., Apr. 28 – Albany at Toronto, 7:00*
• Game 5 – Sat., Apr. 29 – Albany at Toronto, 7:00*/

Central Division Semifinals
No. 1 Chicago Wolves vs. No. 4 Charlotte Checkers

• Game 1 – Thu., Apr. 20 – Chicago at Charlotte, 7:00
• Game 2 – Fri., Apr. 21 – Chicago at Charlotte, 7:15
• Game 3 – Sun., Apr. 23 – Charlotte at Chicago, 3:00*
• Game 4 – Tue., Apr. 25 – Charlotte at Chicago, 8:00*
• Game 5 – Wed., Apr. 26 – Charlotte at Chicago, 8:00*/

Central Division Semifinals
No. 2 Grand Rapids Griffins vs. No. 3 Milwaukee Admirals

• Game 1 – Fri., Apr. 21 – Milwaukee at Grand Rapids, 7:00
• Game 2 – Sun., Apr. 23 – Milwaukee at Grand Rapids, 4:00
• Game 3 – Wed., Apr. 26 – Grand Rapids at Milwaukee, 8:00*
• Game 4 – Fri., Apr. 28 – Grand Rapids at Milwaukee, 8:00*
• Game 5 – Mon., May 1 – Milwaukee at Grand Rapids, 7:00*/

Pacific Division Semifinals
No. 1 San Jose Barracuda vs. No. 4 Stockton Heat

• Game 1 – Fri., Apr. 21 – Stockton at San Jose, 10:00
• Game 2 – Sun., Apr. 23 – Stockton at San Jose, 6:00
• Game 3 – Fri., Apr. 28 – San Jose at Stockton, 10:00*
• Game 4 – Sun., Apr. 30 – San Jose at Stockton, 7:00*
• Game 5 – Tue., May 2 – Stockton at San Jose, 10:00*/

Pacific Division Semifinals
No. 2 San Diego Gulls vs. No. 4 Ontario Reign

• Game 1 – Fri., Apr. 21 – Ontario at San Diego, 10:00
• Game 2 – Sat., Apr. 22 – San Diego at Ontario, 10:00
• Game 3 – Fri., Apr. 28 – Ontario at San Diego, 10:00*
• Game 4 – Mon., May 1 – San Diego at Ontario, 10:00*
• Game 5 – Tue., May 2 – Ontario at San Diego, 10:00*/

Semifinal winners from each division will play each other, with the ultimate Pacific Division champ playing the Central Division champ in the Western Conference Finals, and the North Division champ playing the Atlantic Division champ in the Eastern Finals.

The Division Semifinals are the only best-of-five series in the playoffs. All other series are best-of-seven.