Canadiens fans have reportedly taken over Scotiabank Arena tonight, and the Maple Leafs are hosting a game that sounds anything but home.
One number is making the rounds: "70% of Scotiabank Arena is filled with Montreal fans." That figure is closer to an eyeball estimate than an official count, but the scene backs up the idea.
Red sweaters fill the lower bowl and the upper sections alike. Habs chants are bouncing around a building where Leafs supporters usually control the soundtrack.
Montreal's fan base has long had a reputation for following its team on the road, and Toronto is one of the easiest trips to make. The two cities sit a few hours apart by car or train, and the rivalry carries decades of shared history.
Timing helps too. The Canadiens arrived fresh off a 5-4 home win over Utah on Thursday, and a Saturday puck drop is an easy sell for anyone who wants to see them up close without a long flight.
What a red-sweater crowd does to the Leafs' home edge
Players often say a loud building can shift the mood of a game. Montreal should feel a lift from hearing its own supporters, while Toronto has to find energy without its usual home advantage.
Every big save, hit and goal tests which side of the crowd is louder. And that's the problem for the home team. If an Original Six rival can drown out the Leafs' own fans on a Saturday night, that's an issue the organization should be uncomfortable with.
The Leafs could use a boost from somewhere. Mark Masters reported Friday that John Tavares was practicing in a full sweater, and he's listed on injured reserve with a lower-body injury, expected to be out until at least Nov 7.
Rivalry nights are about atmosphere as much as the standings, and this one has plenty of both. Fans on both sides will be watching to see whether the crowd becomes a true factor as the night plays out.
Quick hits
UTAH MAMMOTH: Nate Schmidt goes down during the game in Ottawa. Pro Hockey Rumors reports the defenseman is out day-to-day, and the news broke while Utah was still playing. Not what a road team needs mid-game.
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COLORADO AVALANCHE: Tonight's lineup is set for the Red Wings game. Colorado Hockey Now has Mackenzie Blackwood in goal, so Detroit gets a look at him on a Saturday night.
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MINNESOTA WILD: Michael Russo says Marcus Foligno was lucky the refs didn't call a fight in the Wild's game against the Lightning tonight. A return with some extra edge, and a break on the bench.
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SEATTLE KRAKEN: Seattle erased a 4-0 deficit and still lost 4-3 to the Rangers tonight. Joonas Korpisalo hung on for his first win in a New York sweater. A brutal way to leave points on the table.
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TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS: The team announced that Morgan Rielly will not return to tonight's game against the Canadiens because of a lower-body injury. That's a big loss on the blue line in a loud building.
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Is a building packed with visiting fans a real problem for the Maple Leafs' home-ice edge?
Also read on Markerzone.com:
Toronto gets unwelcome injury news during the game, and one major question remains unanswered
