Hershey: Hershey Bears' Atlantic Division semifinal playoff series: Opponent, schedule details

Hershey's Ivan Miroshnichenko celebrates his goal against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's Joel Blomqvist in their AHL Hockey game at Giant Center. April 18, 2025. Sean Simmers |ssimmers@pennlive.com It's officially AHL playoff time for the Hershey Bears. Hershey, seeking to three-peat as Calder Cup champion, opens its playoff run against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms in a best-of-five Atlantic Division semifinal on Wednesday night at Giant Center. Opening face-off is 7 p.m. Only one AHL team has won three consecutive Calder Cup titles -- Springfield (1960-62). The Bears finished the regular season as Atlantic Division champions, going 44-20-7-1 to earn 96 points. Hershey is the No. 1 seed for the Atlantic Division playoffs and the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference behind Laval. Third-seeded Lehigh Valley advanced to the semifinal round by defeating Wilkes-Barre/Scranton two games to none in a best-of-three first-round series. Second-seeded Charlotte faces third-seeded Providence in the other best-of-five Atlantic Division semifinal series. HERSHEY-LEHIGH VALLEY PLAYOFF SCHEDULE (Best-of-five series) Wednesday, Game 1: Lehigh Valley vs. Hershey, Giant Center, 7 p.m. Friday, Game 2: Lehigh Valley vs. Hershey, Giant Center, 7 p.m. Sunday, Game 3: Hershey vs. Lehigh Valley, PPL Center in Allentown, 5:05 p.m. May 9, Game 4 (if necessary): Hershey vs. Lehigh Valley, PPL Center, 7:05 p.m. May 11, Game 5 (if necessary): Lehigh Valley vs. Hershey, Giant Center, 5 p.m.