The American Hockey League’s Atlantic Division is absolutely bonkers this season, and despite sitting in the top two of that division all season long, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms are nowhere near clinching a playoff spot with 16 games remaining in their season.
The AHL has a pure divisional playoff format, meaning the top four teams in each of the Atlantic, North, Central and Pacific Divisions qualify. There’s no wild card situation. The 16 playoff teams play within their division for the first two rounds, then play the other division champion from their conference for a right to represent the East and West in the Calder Cup Finals.