No. 3: Avoid fans in Montreal
The Montreal Canadiens are expected to have 2,500 fans in attendance for Game 6, if the series does in fact last that long. As a result, the Toronto Maple Leafs should do everything in their power to avoid that from happening.
If you don’t think fans are a big difference-maker between winning and losing, just look at the games down south. The electricity in those buildings has been amazing and has definitely heightened the play.
Although you wouldn’t have a full crowd at the Bell Centre, 2,500 fans would feel like 25,000, after going 15 months without anyone in attendance.
That jolt of excitement and electricity could fuel the Canadiens to victory, which would ultimately lead to a Game 7 in Toronto.
The words “Toronto” and “Game 7” go together like oil and water, so we already know what the end result would be if that happened. That would be torture for the Leafs fanbase and the team cannot let that happen.
I know it’s impossible to do, but the Toronto Maple Leafs need to treat Game 5 like it’s a Game 7 and play their best game of the series. Based on the three reasons we mentioned, it would be in their best interest to end this series tonight, instead of dragging it on any further.