While there’s no sound in outer space, sometimes that’s strangely true in the alleged Centre of the Hockey Universe.
That had to be on Maple Leaf captain Auston Matthews’ mind on Wednesday after Ryan Reaves kicked off the game against the Columbus Blue Jackets by getting Mathieu Olivier to drop the gloves in a lively exchange of punches.
But instead of firing up the faithful at Scotiabank Arena for the rest of a non-divisional game against a wild-card playoff team, the place turned into another midweek mausoleum.
When the crowd was heard from, it was to toss a few boos to the division-leading Leafs as they fell behind en route to a 5-1 defeat.
Matthews veered from his predictable post-defeat script to express disappointment the building didn’t seize the Reaves’ moment.
“It was great, (fighting) is still part of the game and he’s still a big part of the team,” Matthews said.
“You love to see that, but I’d have liked to see more energy from the crowd after it. It was a little quiet, especially after two guys like that go at it. But it was a great moment for him to give us a little energy on the bench.”
Improving hockey audience participation is an age-old conundrum in Toronto, weekday versus livelier weekend crowds, corporate clientele closest to the ice keeping mum while ‘real’ fans are in the nosebleeds or priced out of games, sitting back home or at the bar.
Even the hype of playoffs has been undermined by the past decade’s post-season failures, jading many fans well into the next regular season, now going on 58 years without a Cup.
As much as folks are in awe of the puck wizardry of Matthews. Mitch Marner and William Nylander, they’re quicker to pounce on defensive mistakes or soft goals.
At Thursday’s Easter Seals Skate, the 45th annual event and a day away from practice for the team, new winger Steven Lorentz gave his take.
“Noise is noise, every building can be quiet or loud. Home or road, energy is energy, so the louder the building, the more guys get up for it. It can be quiet at times going through a rough patch, but when the building is rocking — it could be booing you at an away rink or your fans trying to lift your spirits — we feed off that energy.”
Lorentz also took note of Matthews’ comments.
“He’s our captain and we follow him into battle. What he says, we’re right there with him. It might have been a lapse in the game and we weren’t playing our best hockey at some point. Again, we really rely on that energy from the crowd,” Lorentz said.
“(Matthews’) highs aren’t too high and his lows not too low. It’s a hard thing to do as a pro athlete because you know he can go out and score a hat trick, then we can lose and he has to answer those tough questions.
“It’s good to see him unfazed by some of the negative stuff and then when he does have a big night, he’s not super on his high horse, either, he’s down to earth.”
Reaves was certainly stoked by his bout, going on to one of his best games in his limited playing time this year.
WILL KNIES FLY?
It was still unclear Thursday how first-line left winger Matthew Knies got hurt on Wednesday.
He took a run at a Columbus’s Kirill Marchenko, bounced off and fell to the ice, later taking a couple of post-whistle cross-checks in the back.
He was in the dressing room Thursday morning, but didn’t come on the rink or sign autographs for the charity skate.
“He’s good and in good spirits,” Lorentz ascertained. “He’s a tough kid, built like a brick you-know-what house. He’s got that muscle and that added layer. He’s just a little banged up, but won’t be out too much longer.
“I saw him today and he doesn’t want to be sitting out too long. He’s doing whatever he has to do to get back as soon as possible.”
SENATORS NEXT UP
If Knies can’t play in Ottawa on Saturday, coach Craig Berube (who didn’t speak Thursday) would look at Connor Dewar (a Wednesday scratch) or rookie forward Jacob Quillan, who was called up when Max Pacioretty went on injured reserve.
Reaves likely will remain in. Lorentz was still excited by Wednesday’s fight.
“I had a front row seat. It’s cool to see two gladiators go at it like that. I know Olivier was a tough kid, but he held his own. Reavo was in there and they’re both swinging for the fences.
“Nice to see some of that old time hockey come back a little bit.”
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