Both the London Knights and the Niagara Ice Dogs came steaming into this series with plenty of momentum. The Knights had gone 12-2 in their first two series, while the Ice Dogs sported an even more impressive 12-1, and both teams were coming off a sweep of their respective opponents in the previous round of the OHL playoffs. Suffice it to say that Budweiser Gardens was jumping.
The Knights got off to a slow start in this one, as the Ice Dogs had more energy and forced the Knights into taking the game's first penalty as Owen MacDonald was called for a faceoff violation in the defensive zone.