The 2026 Calder Cup Playoffs reach the conference finals stage, and the Chicago Wolves are back in familiar territory. The Central Division champions (as the No. 2 seed) will face the Pacific Division champion Colorado Eagles in a best-of-seven Western Conference Finals series. The series begins Thursday May 28th in Loveland, Colorado, with Games 1 and 2 at Blue Arena before shifting back to Allstate Arena for Games 3, 4, and potentially 5. If necessary, games 6 and 7 would be in Colorado.
Previous Round Recap
The Chicago Wolves advanced to the Western Conference Finals by upsetting the top-seeded Grand Rapids Griffins in the Central Division Finals. After taking the first two games on the road, Chicago dropped Game 3 in overtime but responded strongly in Game 4 with a 3-2 victory. Noah Philp scored twice, Justin Robidas added another, and Cayden Primeau stood tall with 33 saves to clinch the series 3-1.
The Colorado Eagles earned their first-ever trip to the Western Conference Finals by defeating the Coachella Valley Firebirds 3-1 in the Pacific Division Finals. They dropped Game 2 but bounced back with strong home performances, including a 3-2 comeback win in Game 4 highlighted by goals from Bryan Yoon, Tristen Nielsen, and Gavin Brindley. Goaltender Trent Miner was outstanding throughout.
Head-to-Head This Season
The Wolves and Eagles met four times in the regular season with a relatively even split (Chicago was 1-1-2-0 against Colorado). Games were competitive, setting the stage for what should be a hard-fought, high-stakes playoff series between two deep organizations. Both these organizations are in the Final Four in both the NHL and AHL. An incredible feat for the Carolina Hurricanes and Colorado Avalanche.
Goaltending Breakdown
Chicago Wolves – Cayden Primeau has been rock solid in the postseason. He delivered key performances against both Texas and Grand Rapids, posting strong save percentages and making timely saves. His experience and athleticism will be vital against Colorado’s speed and structure.
Colorado Eagles – Trent Miner has been one of the best goaltenders in the entire playoffs. He’s posted elite numbers, including multiple shutouts, a 1.26 GAA (best in AHL), and a save percentage around .947 through the first three rounds. His poise and ability to steal games give the Eagles an edge in net.
In the scatter plot below, we see all AHL goalies (5+ starts) in the Calder Cup Playoffs. Best goalies will be in the top left (High Save %, Low GAA).
Trent Miner stands out as the more dominant playoff performer between the two. He combines the lowest GAA (1.26) with an elite .947 save percentage, which suggests he was both difficult to score against and consistently stopped a very high percentage of shots.
Cayden Primeau, while still strong, sits closer to the middle of the group with a 2.31 GAA and .924 save percentage. His numbers indicate solid playoff goaltending, but Miner’s results were clearly more efficient and impactful overall.
Colorado Eagles Skaters to Watch
Colorado’s offense features a mix of veteran leadership and young talent. T.J. Tynan provides playmaking and energy, while Alex Barre-Boulet has been a consistent scoring threat. Look for contributions from Gavin Brindley, Tristen Nielsen, and Taylor Makar up front. Defensively, players like Sean Behrens and veterans such as Jacob MacDonald anchor the blue line.
Chicago Wolves Skaters to Watch
For Chicago, the top line featuring Bradly Nadeau, Ryan Suzuki, and Justin Robidas continues to drive offense. Depth contributors like Noah Philp (hot in the division finals), Josiah Slavin, and Felix Unger Sorum will be critical. On defense, the pairing of Juuso Välimäki and Domenick Fensore has provided depth and stability.
| Game | Date | Time (CT) | Home Team |
| Game 1 | Thursday, May 28 | 8:05 PM | Colorado |
| Game 2 | Saturday, May 30 | 7:05 PM | Colorado |
| Game 3 | Tuesday, June 2 | 7 PM | Chicago |
| Game 4 | Wednesday, June 3 | 7 PM | Chicago |
| *Game 5 | Friday, June 5 | 7 PM | Chicago |
| *Game 6 | Sunday, June 7 | 7:05 PM | Colorado |
| *Game 7 | Monday, June 8 | 8:05 PM | Colorado |
*If Necessary