Where to watch 2025 Calder Cup playoff: Charlotte Checkers, Laval Rocket stand out as competition heats up
Calder Cup playoffs (via Getty Images)
The 2025 Calder Cup playoffs are getting hotter, with highlight-reel teams such as the Charlotte Checkers and Laval Rocket making waves as leading candidates for the American Hockey League's coveted postseason title.
The battle to lay hands on the AHL's highest accolade now rests on which franchise can remain steadfast in the perilous coming rounds. Charlotte Checkers and Laval Rocket edge past top seeds in thrilling Calder Cup showdowns.
Where to watch the Calder Cup playoffs 2025
HIGHLIGHTS: Game 4 Rochester Americans vs Laval Rocket | AHL Calder Cup Playoffs
The Calder Cup playoffs will not air on traditional TV channels, but fans can live stream every game of the AHL postseason on AHLTV on FloHockey.
Calder Cup playoffs 2025 format overview
The top seed in each division (Hershey, Laval, Milwaukee, and Colorado) received a bye to the division semifinals.
Playoff structure:
First Round: Best-of-3 Division Semifinals and Finals: Best-of-5 Conference Finals & Calder Cup Final: Best-of-7
Team qualification:
North & Central: Top 5 teams Atlantic: Top 6 teams Pacific: Top 7 teams
Upcoming Key Games
May 25:
Laval vs. Rochester (Game 5)
Milwaukee vs. Texas (Game 5)
May 26:
Colorado vs. Abbotsford (Game 5)
What to look out for?
The 2025 American Hockey League playoffs have become a nail-biting, action-packed bracket, replete with upsets and breakout performances. The Charlotte Checkers, who are the Florida Panthers' affiliate, stunned all expectations by sweeping the dynastic Hershey Bears, a team many thought would pull off a rare three-peat.
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After defeating the Providence Bruins in a thrilling five-game series, the Charlotte Checkers dominated the Atlantic Division Finals. Behind a fearless offensive surge and stingy defense, they swept all three games from the Hershey Bears, capped by an overtime thrill ride in Game 2. This is a huge change in momentum as the Checkers become legitimate threats to capture the Eastern Conference title.
Meanwhile, in the North Division, the Montreal Canadiens-backed Laval Rocket are in a closely contested series with the Rochester Americans.
The top team in the AHL regular season with 101 points, Laval showed their strength immediately, taking two commanding games before Rochester came back with two good wins too. The May 25 Game 5 tiebreaker will determine who will proceed to the Conference Finals.
In the Central Division, the Milwaukee Admirals and Texas Stars are tied at 2-2, with a deciding Game 5 to come. Both have traded wins, with the Admirals, who are Nashville Predators affiliates, holding firm after initial losses.
Across in the Pacific Division, Abbotsford Canucks and the Colorado Eagles are tied too, with May 26's Game 5 guaranteed to be another nail-biting closer.
Also read:
Bogdan Trineyev re-signs with Capitals after a strong AHL season
These tight series are a mirror of parity in the Calder Cup playoffs this year, where home-ice domination has been irrelevant and determination has been the deciding factor. With every division now hanging precariously on a blade's tip, and numerous Game 5s on the horizon to decide who advances, the fans are treated to an unforgettable climax to one of the most closely fought playoffs in years. Whether it is an emerging champion or an old throne returner, one thing is for sure — the path to the Calder Cup has never been more thrilling.
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