# 1986 Calder Cup playoffs

The 1986 Calder Cup playoffs of the American Hockey League began on April 9, 1986. The eight teams that qualified, four from each division, played best-of-seven series for Division Semifinals and Division Finals. The division champions played a best-of-seven series for the Calder Cup. The Calder Cup Final ended on May 21, 1986, with the Adirondack Red Wings defeating the Hershey Bears four games to two to win the Calder Cup for the second time in team history. Hershey's Tim Tookey won the Jack A. Butterfield Trophy as AHL playoff MVP, becoming the first player from the losing finalist to win the award.

## Playoff seeds

After the 1985–86 AHL regular season, the top four teams from each division qualified for the playoffs. The Hershey Bears finished the regular season with the best overall record.

### Northern Division

* Adirondack Red Wings - 90 points
* Maine Mariners - 89 points
* Moncton Golden Flames - 80 points
* Fredericton Express - 78 points

### Southern Division

* Hershey Bears - 99 points
* Binghamton Whalers - 87 points
* St. Catharines Saints - 81 points
* New Haven Nighthawks - 79 points

## Bracket

| Division Semifinals | Division Semifinals | Division Semifinals | Division Finals | Division Finals | Division Finals | Calder Cup Final | Calder Cup Final | Calder Cup Final |
| 1 | Adirondack | 4 | | | | | | |
| 4 | Fredericton | 2 | | | | | | |
| 4 | Fredericton | 2 | 1 | Adirondack | 4 | | | |
| Northern Division | Northern Division | Northern Division | 1 | Adirondack | 4 | | | |
| Northern Division | Northern Division | Northern Division | 3 | Moncton | 1 | | | |
| 2 | Maine | 1 | 3 | Moncton | 1 | | | |
| 3 | Moncton | 4 | | | | | | |
| 3 | Moncton | 4 | | | | N1 | Adirondack | 4 |
| | | | | | | S1 | Hershey | 2 |
| 1 | Hershey | 4 | | | | | | | S1 | Hershey | 2 |
| 4 | New Haven | 1 | | | | | | |
| 4 | New Haven | 1 | 1 | Hershey | 4 | | | |
| Southern Division | Southern Division | Southern Division | 1 | Hershey | 4 | | | |
| Southern Division | Southern Division | Southern Division | 3 | St. Catharines | 3 | | | |
| 2 | Binghamton | 2 | 3 | St. Catharines | 3 | | | |
| 3 | St. Catharines | 4 | | | | | | |
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: Home team is listed first.

### Northern Division
#### (1) Adirondack Red Wings vs. (4) Fredericton Express

* Adirondack won series 4 – 2

#### (2) Maine Mariners vs. (3) Moncton Golden Flames

* Moncton won series 4 - 1

### Southern Division
#### (1) Hershey Bears vs. (4) New Haven Nighthawks

* Hershey won series 4 - 1

#### (2) Binghamton Whalers vs. (3) St. Catharines Saints

* St. Catharines won series 4 - 2

## Division Finals
### Northern Division
#### (1) Adirondack Red Wings vs. (3) Moncton Golden Flames

* Adirondack won series 4 - 1

### Southern Division
#### (1) Hershey Bears vs. (3) St. Catharines Saints

* Hershey won series 4 - 3

## Calder Cup Final
### (S1) Hershey Bears vs.(N1) Adirondack Red Wings

* Adirondack won series 4 - 2