The 1972 Calder Cup playoffs of the American Hockey League began on April 4, 1972. The eight teams that qualified played best-of-seven series for Division Semifinals and Finals. The division champions played a best-of-seven series for the Calder Cup. The Calder Cup Final ended on May 15, 1972, with the Nova Scotia Voyageurs, in their inaugural season in Nova Scotia, defeating the Baltimore Clippers four games to two to win the Calder Cup for the first time in team history. The Voyageurs also became the first Canadian team to win the Calder Cup.

Baltimore and Cincinnati set an AHL playoff record for most goals scored by both teams in one game with 18, when Baltimore beat Cincinnati 10-8 in game 5 of the Southern division final. Baltimore's Howie Menard set an AHL record for most points in one playoff game with 7 against Cleveland in game 5 of their Southern division semifinal. Two players have tied this record since then. Nova Scotia's Michel Plasse set an AHL record for lowest goals against average in one playoff, posting a 1.25 GAA.

Playoff seeds

After the 1971–72 AHL regular season, the top three teams from each division qualified for the playoffs. The Boston Braves finished the regular season with the best overall record, winning the head-to-head tiebreaker with Nova Scotia.

Eastern Division

  1. Boston Braves - 96 points
  2. Nova Scotia Voyageurs - 96 points
  3. Springfield Kings - 77 points
  4. Providence Reds - 67 points

Western Division

  1. Baltimore Clippers - 79 points
  2. Hershey Bears - 79 points
  3. Cincinnati Swords - 78 points
  4. Cleveland Barons - 74 points

Bracket

Division SemifinalsDivision FinalsCalder Cup Final
1Boston4
4Providence1
1Boston0
Eastern Division
2Nova Scotia4
2Nova Scotia4
3Springfield1
E1Nova Scotia4
W1Baltimore2
1Baltimore4
4Cleveland2
1Baltimore4
Western Division
3Cincinnati2
2Hershey0
3Cincinnati4

In each round, the higher seed 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: Home team is listed first.

Eastern Division

(1) Boston Braves vs. (4) Providence Reds

April 4Boston Braves8 - 1Providence Reds
April 8Boston Braves2 - 1Providence Reds
April 9Providence Reds6 - 2Boston Braves
April 11Providence Reds4 - 5OTBoston Braves
April 15Boston Braves3 - 2Providence Reds
Boston won series 4 – 1

(2) Nova Scotia Voyageurs vs. (3) Springfield Kings

April 4Nova Scotia Voyageurs4 - 0Springfield Kings
April 7Nova Scotia Voyageurs6 - 0Springfield Kings
April 8Springfield Kings3 - 2Nova Scotia Voyageurs
April 9Springfield Kings2 - 5Nova Scotia Voyageurs
April 12Nova Scotia Voyageurs11 - 1Springfield Kings
Nova Scotia won series 4 - 1

Western Division

(1) Baltimore Clippers vs. (4) Cleveland Barons

April 6Baltimore Clippers3 - 5Cleveland Barons
April 7Baltimore Clippers6 - 0Cleveland Barons
April 8Cleveland Barons1 - 3Baltimore Clippers
April 11Cleveland Barons5 - 3Baltimore Clippers
April 12Baltimore Clippers10 - 1Cleveland Barons
April 14Cleveland Barons1 - 4Baltimore Clippers
Baltimore won series 4 - 2

(2) Hershey Bears vs. (3) Cincinnati Swords

April 5Hershey Bears4 - 5OTCincinnati Swords
April 8Hershey Bears2 - 5Cincinnati Swords
April 9Cincinnati Swords7 - 2Hershey Bears
April 11Cincinnati Swords3 - 1Hershey Bears
Cincinnati won series 4 - 0

Division Finals

Eastern Division

(1) Boston Braves vs. (2) Nova Scotia Voyageurs

April 17Boston Braves1 - 4Nova Scotia Voyageurs
April 22Boston Braves0 - 2Nova Scotia Voyageurs
April 24Nova Scotia Voyageurs4 - 2Boston Braves
April 26Nova Scotia Voyageurs5 - 2Boston Braves
Nova Scotia won series 4 - 0

Western Division

(1) Baltimore Clippers vs. (3) Cincinnati Swords

April 18Baltimore Clippers7 - 4Cincinnati Swords
April 19Baltimore Clippers4 - 3Cincinnati Swords
April 21Cincinnati Swords3 - 2OTBaltimore Clippers
April 23Cincinnati Swords4 - 1Baltimore Clippers
April 28Baltimore Clippers10 - 8Cincinnati Swords
April 29Cincinnati Swords1 - 3Baltimore Clippers
Baltimore won series 4 - 2

Calder Cup Final

(W1) Baltimore Clippers vs. (E2) Nova Scotia Voyageurs

May 3Baltimore Clippers2 - 0Nova Scotia Voyageurs
May 5Baltimore Clippers2 - 1OTNova Scotia Voyageurs
May 6Nova Scotia Voyageurs6 - 1Baltimore Clippers
May 8Nova Scotia Voyageurs6 - 1Baltimore Clippers
May 11Baltimore Clippers1 - 4Nova Scotia Voyageurs
May 15Nova Scotia Voyageurs4 - 1Baltimore Clippers
Nova Scotia won series 4 - 2

See also

Preceded by1971 Calder Cup playoffsCalder Cup playoffs 1972Succeeded by1973 Calder Cup playoffs