It has been said that the first game is often the least important in a playoff series. Perhaps less so in a best of seven, more important in a best of five.

Of the sixteen series completed in the OPJHL thus far, the team that won the first game went on to win the series.

Fifteen series have been won by the teams that won the first game. Only one has not.

Eight were in the best of five rounds and the other 7 have been in the best of seven rounds.

The only team to win the first game of their series and not go on to win their series was the Newmarket Hurricanes. They beat Aurora in the 1st game of their best of seven series but lost 4 games to one.

Let's see if it holds up in each of the divisional finals.

North
Stouffville won 1st game

West
Oakville won 1st game

South
Markham won 1st game

East
Wellington won 1st game.

If Spirit,Waxer, Blades and Duke fans are feeling pretty good about now, they have good reason to.

Wayjoy

Here's hoping the Vees can be the second team to go against the grain.

I will wear that lucky Stouffville championship hat you once were so kind enough to give me once.

Though I know you are no longer one of the Spirits' biggest fans, I am hoping it will bring the Voyageurs luck.

Only one thing better. If you could make it down to a game in Kingston and lend them your support personally.

That would be, as Wexdog says, kewl .

Wayjoy

Wayne, interesting stat, but I'm not sure how indicate it is of the importance of game one. It does demonstrate that the team that wants it most comes out hard from the start. In the end game 1 is just one win of four and is just as important as the other three you have to get.

Toronto Maple Leafs= Ford Motor Company

Interesting stat ...

But ... last year Markham beat the Buzzers in the first round playoff ... in fact won the first three! And then lost four in a row!

Stats are pretty to look at ... but I love it when they are turned on their ear.

We'll see if Markham can hold it together this year. They have tonnes of talent ... but they have basically the same crew as last year. And we'll see if they've learned to finish.

I'm not convinced their goal tending is better.

Spezza was a bit of a nutbar but pretty good.