# 1974 Calder Cup playoffs

The 1974 Calder Cup playoffs of the American Hockey League began on April 3, 1974. 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 8, 1974, with the Hershey Bears defeating the Providence Reds four games to one to win the Calder Cup for the fifth time in team history.
Richmond and Baltimore tied the AHL playoff record for highest scoring shutout in game 2 of their Southern division semifinal, which Richmond won 10-0.

## Playoff seeds

After the 1973–74 AHL regular season, the top three teams from each division qualified for the playoffs. The Rochester Americans finished the regular season with the best overall record.

### Northern Division

* Rochester Americans - 97 points
* Providence Reds - 88 points
* Nova Scotia Voyageurs - 86 points
* New Haven Nighthawks - 80 points

### Southern Division

* Baltimore Clippers - 94 points
* Hershey Bears - 92 points
* Cincinnati Swords - 91 points
* Richmond Robins - 58 points

## Bracket

| Division Semifinals | Division Semifinals | Division Semifinals | Division Finals | Division Finals | Division Finals | Calder Cup Final | Calder Cup Final | Calder Cup Final |
| 1 | Rochester | 2 | | | | | | |
| 4 | New Haven | 4 | | | | | | |
| 4 | New Haven | 4 | 4 | New Haven | 0 | | | |
| Northern Division | Northern Division | Northern Division | 4 | New Haven | 0 | | | |
| Northern Division | Northern Division | Northern Division | 2 | Providence | 4 | | | |
| 2 | Providence | 4 | 2 | Providence | 4 | | | |
| 3 | Nova Scotia | 2 | | | | | | |
| 3 | Nova Scotia | 2 | | | | N2 | Providence | 1 |
| | | | | | | S2 | Hershey | 4 |
| 1 | Baltimore | 4 | | | | | | | S2 | Hershey | 4 |
| 4 | Richmond | 1 | | | | | | |
| 4 | Richmond | 1 | 1 | Baltimore | 0 | | | |
| Southern Division | Southern Division | Southern Division | 1 | Baltimore | 0 | | | |
| Southern Division | Southern Division | Southern Division | 2 | Hershey | 4 | | | |
| 2 | Hershey | 4 | 2 | Hershey | 4 | | | |
| 3 | Cincinnati | 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.

## Division Semifinals

    Note: Home team is listed first.

### Northern Division
#### (1) Rochester Americans vs. (4) New Haven Nighthawks

* New Haven won series 4 – 2

#### (2) Providence Reds vs. (3) Nova Scotia Voyageurs

* Providence won series 4 - 2

### Southern Division
#### (1) Baltimore Clippers vs. (4) Richmond Robins

* Baltimore won series 4 - 1

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

* Hershey won series 4 - 1

## Division Finals
### Northern Division
#### (2) Providence Reds vs. (4) New Haven Nighthawks

* Providence won series 4 - 0

### Southern Division
#### (1) Baltimore Clippers vs. (2) Hershey Bears

* Hershey won series 4 - 0

## Calder Cup Final
### (S2) Hershey Bears vs. (N2) Providence Reds

* Hershey won series 4 - 1