11.   Perhaps Sprewell was too eager in his first playoff start, too pumped up by the introduction at the Garden.

12.   Rogers stumbled and bumbled for a third consecutive playoff start, getting the quick hook after giving up five runs in two innings of work.

13.   That the Devils are not there yet is a tribute to Theodore, who played like a veteran in the first playoff start of his career.

14.   Torre reflected on sending Orlando Hernandez to the mound in Cleveland two years ago for his first playoff start.

15.   Washington is tied with the Hartford Whalers for the eighth and final playoff start.

16.   You can find something good out of losing early, before the playoffs start, and it kind of gives you an attitude going into the playoffs.

17.   Hampton, going for his first postseason win in his fifth playoff start, pitched out of trouble in the first inning.

18.   He also made two playoff starts for the Bills.

19.   In his first career playoff start, he had none of the smoothness and easy consistency that usually characterizes his game.

20.   Kiprusoff also shined in two playoff starts against St. Louis when Nabokov was sidelined by a back injury.