Schedule set for Eastern finals

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. … The American Hockey League has announced the following schedule for the Eastern Conference Finals series in the 2011 Calder Cup Playoffs:

Eastern Conference Final – Series “M” (best-of-7)
E3-Charlotte Checkers vs. E5-Binghamton Senators
Game 1 – Thu., May 12 – Binghamton at Charlotte, 7:05
Game 2 – Fri., May 13 – Binghamton at Charlotte, 7:05
Game 3 – Tue., May 17 – Charlotte at Binghamton, 7:05
Game 4 – Wed., May 18 – Charlotte at Binghamton, 7:05
*Game 5 – Sat., May 21 – Charlotte at Binghamton, 7:05
*Game 6 – Mon., May 23 – Binghamton at Charlotte, 7:05
*Game 7 – Tue., May 24 – Binghamton at Charlotte, 7:05

*if necessary… All times Eastern

Playing its first season in the AHL, Charlotte reached the conference finals by knocking off the two-time defending Calder Cup champion Hershey Bears in the division semifinals and the 2010-11 regular-season champion Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in the division finals.

Binghamton, after five consecutive seasons out of the playoffs, defeated the Manchester Monarchs and the Portland Pirates to make the conference finals for the first time since 2003.