MONTREAL — Canada's first NHL crowd in nearly 15 months put on a show early Saturday as their team — as if fired out of a cannon — came in waves.
When the Maple Leafs finally pushed back and erased a two-goal deficit with under nine minutes to go in regulation and then dominated the Canadiens much of overtime, the nervous, tension-filled 2,500 in attendance at the Bell Centre could barely muster applause as Carey Price, as he has so many times, kept his team breathing.
One mistake on the other side and a quick shot that took a deflection snapped the building back into a euphoria and ensured this Original Six playoff matchup will go the distance.