Bruins spoil Leafs’ first home playoff game since 2004 but fans stay optimistic
Posted May 6, 2013 11:38 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
TORONTO – Leaf Nation is hopeful — despite a 5-2 loss to the Boston Bruins in the Toronto Maple Leafs’ first home playoff game since 2004 Monday night.
A sea of blue and white flooded Maple Leaf Square and fans were glued to Game 3.
The Bruins scored two goals in a little over two minutes in the second period to defeat the Buds and regain the upper hand in their NHL playoff series.
But Leafs’ fans are optimistic the boys in blue and white will make a comeback in Game 4.
“They’ll pull through. They’re going to win the series,” one fan told 680News.
“They’ll look at this game and learn and hopefully, they’ll bounce back in Game 4,” another fan said.
“After nine years, it’s great experience and they’re going to learn a lot from it so hopefully, if nothing else, then next year they’ll come back with a vengeance and we’ll take it,” another fan told 680News.
Earlier Monday, fans took in Blue and White Day, as declared by Mayor Rob Ford, rocking all of their Leafs’ duds.
“After nine years without playoff hockey, the Toronto Maple Leafs will host the Boston Bruins in Game 3 of a best of seven, which should only last five games, we know we’re going take them three straight,” Ford said.
Though, the game did not go as Leafs’ fans had hoped, they doled out the big bucks for tickets and parking.
Some parking lots were charging as much as $50, fans told 680News.
One fan nabbed a spot for $25 and said it was expected.
“I understand it’s reasonable for an event like this and it’s something I expect,” he said.
Another fan said $25 was too pricey but the price to pay to watch the Leafs in playoff game after nine years.
“People are going to pay because they want to go watch the game. If it were cheaper, people would be happier. But people are going to pay regardless. First time in nine years that the Leafs have made the playoffs, that’ a big thing,” he said.
680News reporter Momin Qureshi even nabbed a pair of coveted playoff tickets for Game 3.
“I went in to check to see if any tickets were available and indeed there were a few pairs available,” he said.
“I’ve been a Leaf fan my entire life. Never been to a playoff game. Realized it doesn’t come around often.”
“I snatched them up as quickly as I could,” he said.
Leafs versus Bruins playoff schedule:
Game 3: Mon. May 6
Boston at Toronto, 7 p.m.
Game 4: Wed. May 8
Boston at Toronto, 7 p.m. BROADCAST ON 680News
* Game 5: Fri. May 10
Toronto at Boston, 7 p.m.
* Game 6: Sun. May 12
Boston at Toronto, time TBA
* Game 7: Mon. May 13
Toronto at Boston, time TBA
* if necessary
You can hear the exclusive play-by-play radio broadcast of Game 4 on May 8 at 7 p.m. During the broadcast of the playoff game, 680News’ regular programming including news, traffic and weather can be heard online at 680News.com.
