SPRINGFIELD, Mass. … The American Hockey League has released the following schedules for the conference quarterfinal round of the 2012 Calder Cup Playoffs.

The best-of-five first-round series are in either a 2-2-1 format or a 2-3 format; in the 2-3 format, the higher seed has the option of playing the first two games or the last three games at home.

Eastern Conference

Eastern Conference Quarterfinals – Series “A” (best-of-5)

1-Norfolk Admirals vs. 8-Manchester Monarchs

Game 1 – Fri., Apr. 20 – Manchester at Norfolk, 7:30

Game 2 – Sat., Apr. 21 – Manchester at Norfolk, 7:15

Game 3 – Wed., Apr. 25 – Norfolk at Manchester, 7:00

*Game 4 – Fri., Apr. 27 – Norfolk at Manchester, 7:00

*Game 5 – Sat., Apr. 28 – Norfolk at Manchester, 7:00

Eastern Conference Quarterfinals – Series “B” (best-of-5)

2-St. John’s IceCaps vs. 7-Syracuse Crunch

Game 1 – Fri., Apr. 20 – St. John’s at Syracuse, 7:30

Game 2 – Sat., Apr. 21 – St. John’s at Syracuse, 7:30

Game 3 – Wed., Apr. 25 – Syracuse at St. John’s, 6:00

*Game 4 – Fri., Apr. 27 – Syracuse at St. John’s, 6:00

*Game 5 – Sat., Apr. 28 – Syracuse at St. John’s, 6:00

Eastern Conference Quarterfinals – Series “C” (best-of-5)

3-Bridgeport Sound Tigers vs. 6-Connecticut Whale

Game 1 – Thu., Apr. 19 – Connecticut at Bridgeport, 7:00

Game 2 – Sat., Apr. 21 – Connecticut at Bridgeport, 7:00

Game 3 – Sun., Apr. 22 – Bridgeport at Connecticut, 5:00

*Game 4 – Wed., Apr. 25 – Bridgeport at Connecticut, 7:00

*Game 5 – Sat., Apr. 28 – Connecticut at Bridgeport, 7:00

Eastern Conference Quarterfinals – Series “D” (best-of-5)

4-Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins vs. 5-Hershey Bears

Game 1 – Fri., Apr. 20 – Hershey at W-B/Scranton, 7:05

Game 2 – Sat., Apr. 21 – Hershey at W-B/Scranton, 7:05

Game 3 – Wed., Apr. 25 – W-B/Scranton at Hershey, 7:00

*Game 4 – Fri., Apr. 27 – W-B/Scranton at Hershey, 7:00

*Game 5 – Sat., Apr. 28 – Hershey at W-B/Scranton, 7:05

Western Conference

Western Conference Quarterfinals – Series “E” (best-of-5)

1-Oklahoma City Barons vs. 8-Houston Aeros

Game 1 – Thu., Apr. 19 – Oklahoma City at Houston, 8:05

Game 2 – Fri., Apr. 20 – Oklahoma City at Houston, 8:35

Game 3 – Sun., Apr. 22 – Houston at Oklahoma City, 8:00

*Game 4 – Tue., Apr. 24 – Houston at Oklahoma City, 8:00

*Game 5 – Wed., Apr. 25 – Houston at Oklahoma City, 8:00

Western Conference Quarterfinals – Series “F” (best-of-5)

2-Toronto Marlies vs. 7-Rochester Americans

Game 1 – Thu., Apr. 19 – Rochester at Toronto, 7:00

Game 2 – Sat., Apr. 21 – Rochester at Toronto, 3:00

Game 3 – Mon., Apr. 23 – Toronto at Rochester, 7:05

*Game 4 – Wed., Apr. 25 – Toronto at Rochester, 7:05

*Game 5 – Sat., Apr. 28 – Rochester at Toronto, 3:00

Western Conference Quarterfinals – Series “G” (best-of-5)

3-Chicago Wolves vs. 6-San Antonio Rampage

Game 1 – Thu., Apr. 19 – Chicago at San Antonio, 8:00

Game 2 – Sat., Apr. 21 – Chicago at San Antonio, 8:00

Game 3 – Tue., Apr. 24 – San Antonio at Chicago, 8:00

*Game 4 – Wed., Apr. 25 – San Antonio at Chicago, 8:00

*Game 5 – Fri., Apr. 27 – San Antonio at Chicago, 8:30

Western Conference Quarterfinals – Series “H” (best-of-5)

4-Abbotsford Heat vs. 5-Milwaukee Admirals

Game 1 – Fri., Apr. 20 – Abbotsford at Milwaukee, 8:00

Game 2 – Sun., Apr. 22 – Abbotsford at Milwaukee, 6:00

Game 3 – Wed., Apr. 25 – Milwaukee at Abbotsford, 10:00

*Game 4 – Fri., Apr. 27 – Milwaukee at Abbotsford, 10:00

*Game 5 – Sat., Apr. 28 – Milwaukee at Abbotsford, 10:00

All times Eastern

*if necessary

In operation since 1936, the American Hockey League continues to serve as the top development league for all 30 National Hockey League teams. More than 85 percent of all players competing in the NHL are AHL graduates, and through the years the American Hockey League has been home to more than 100 honored members of the Hockey Hall of Fame. Sixteen clubs will continue to vie for the league’s coveted championship trophy when the 2012 Calder Cup Playoffs get under way on Thursday.