Thanks for the digging. I’d have put $$$ on no 7 or 8 seeds winning a series over the last 10 years. That said, there have been some really poor division winners with the #2 seed so it shouldn’t surprise me to he honest.
Clearly #5 seeds can beat #4 seeds. I am actually surprised it hasn’t happened more than twice! In the end, if we are sacrificing the #5 seed to make the schedule more meaningful by adding two weeks to the regular season, I think that is a sacrifice worth while. Those extra five of six regular season games will help legitimize the value of the regular season.
2011 a 7 seed (Sudbury) and a 6th seed (Plymouth) won first round, but both were swept in the second
Last 8th seed to win in the first round was in 2005
Toronto (8) over Mississauga (1)
Also that season
Ottawa (6) over Barrie (3)
Sudbury (5) over Brampton (4)
Windsor (7) over Sault Ste. Marie (2)
But we all know that this was all Branch's plan in order to give the Knights an easier run to being the Greatest OHL team of all time