That is because what happens in the regular season does not always translate into the post-season.

The Huntsville Muskoka Otters have discovered this during their opening-round series with the Stouffville Spirit. The Otters dominated the Spirit during the 2007-2008 Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League’s regular campaign, winning five of six matches on the way to coming first in the North Division, a full 17 points better than Stouffville.

However, Huntsville finds itself in a battle with a hot Spirit team, a club that swept a competitive Couchiching Terriers club out in three straight in the first round.

The North Division semifinal series is knotted at one game each, as the Otters staged a third-period comeback in Game 2 on Sunday in Stouffville to even the series at 1-1. The Spirit won their fourth straight playoff game on Friday in Huntsville, a 2-1 nailbiter to take a 1-0 lead in the series.

The Spirit appeared to have Game 2 in hand with a 3-2 lead heading into the last half of the third period. But powerplay goals by Mike Ball and Rob Waddell – the marker comprised a three-point night for the veteran forward – plus and empty-net goal from Josh Vatri sent the legion of Huntsville fans who had made the trek to Stouffville into a frenzy.

Coach Tom McCarthy admits his team may have been a bit slow to get off the mark due to the layoff waiting for the Spirit to eliminate the Terriers.

“We didn’t start off well. It was probably partway through the second period (of Game 2) that we started to get a little mad, a little angry. We continued to do the little things a bit better and got a little more aggressive and it started to take its toll on Stouffville.”

He said that he knew a few days prior to the start of the series that his team’s timing was not where it should have been.

“It took a little while for us to get back into the flow of things. Stouffville had a normal routine with a few days off (between the two series) and they were in shape for that situation. These are facts, not excuses.”

The Spirit jumped out to a 2-0 in Sunday’s game, both goals coming on the powerplay. Corey George counted Huntsville’s first goal early in the second to make the score 2-1 and Brad Williams scored shorthanded at 11:12 to tie the game at 2-2. The Spirit retook the lead at 3-2 before the Otters staged their comeback to secure the victory.

Stouffville goaltender Trevor O’Neill was the story of Game 1, stopping 44 of 45 Huntsville shots in leading his team to the win. Only a powerplay goal from Jon Whitelaw in the second period eluded him. He was at his best in the first period when he made 19 saves while his mates managed to sneak one past Huntsville netminder Jeff Dawson.

The third game in the series was to be played Tuesday night in Huntsville. Game 4 is set for tomorrow night in Stouffville with the fifth game back in Huntsville this Friday night.