Come on in Leafs and Raptors will have full capacity
Author of the article:
Lance HornbyPublishing date:
Oct 08, 2021 • 59 minutes ago • 3 minute read • Join the conversation
While there could be a full house at Scotiabank Arena for the Maple Leafs' 2021-22 home opener, it is unclear whether fans will be able to cheer for forward Auston Matthews, who continues to recover from wrist surgery. Photo by Nick Turchiaro /USA Today Sports Article content The Maple Leafs’ first full season since 2018-19 will include a full house at Scotiabank Arena.
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Article contentAn announcement by the Ontario government on Friday, lifting remaining COVID-19 restrictions at major sporting venues and in a wide range of entertainment venues such as concerts and movie theatres, means Scotiabank Arena can move towards its approximate 19,000 limit for hockey.
The Leafs have their final exhibition game Saturday against the Ottawa Senators, but the full force could be in place by Wednesday’s regular season opener of the 82-game schedule against the Montreal Canadiens.
Pre-season crowds had been capped at 9,500, though fans will still have to show proof of double vaccination to get in. Masking and physical distancing are also still required, but the latter will be difficult if the house is packed.
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Article content“Throughout the process of re-opening our venues to fans, which included working closely with the Province over many months, health and safety has been our shared top priority,†Michael Friisdahl, president and CEO of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, said in a release. “We are overjoyed to see this day arrive when we are able to welcome a full venue to cheer on the Leafs and Raptors. We are grateful to all levels of government for their partnership in this process and recognize there will continue to be much work to do together to ensure the safest environment possible for every event attendee and our community.â€
NO RUSH FOR AUSTON
Head coach Sheldon Keefe is already calling Auston Matthews “day-to-day†for next week approaching the Montreal game. Matthews definitely won’t play Saturday, as all precautions are taken with his surgically repaired wrist, despite what seems to be full range in shooting and passing the past few days.
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Article content“It’s a combination of allowing it to strengthen up a bit to the point where’s he able to go in and play against an unfriendly opponent,†Keefe said Friday. “He’s competing very hard in our practices and guys are going hard against him, but it’s not the same.
“The other part of it is, a lot of our guys have been at (full contact) a few weeks now and so have the opponents. So we can give him a little more time to get up to speed.â€
ROOTIN’ FOR RUBINS
Kristians Rubins, the 6-foot-5 defenceman now with the Marlies, was designated one of Latvia’s first three players to its Olympic team on Friday. He joins Zemgus Girgensons (Buffalo) and Rudolfs Balcers (San Jose). The stay-at-home Rubins has 85 games of AHL experience.
“Terrific recognition for him, he’s worked really hard and I thought he had a really good camp,†said Keefe. “His last game Tuesday night (a win over the Canadiens), he did a really nice job and I know he did a good job for Latvia in the qualifiers.â€
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Article contentLOOSE LEAFS
Veteran winger Jason Spezza, on why teams such as Toronto need two established goalies, in Jack Campbell and Petr Mrazek: “It speaks to the competitive balance of the league. You had your lesser teams, expansion teams (versus) teams a little more sure of a win. You’d play your backup against them and the lead guy would play 65 or had Marty Brodeur playing 75-plus. Those days are kind of gone, it’s so tough every night. The team in 32nd can beat the team in first. That shows why you need a goalie to be fresh and not ride a guy too long†… Alex Steeves, the Notre Dame free agent forward who had such a fine rookie development camp before injuring his shoulder, has resumed practising with the Marlies. The farm team opens its exhibition schedule Saturday in Laval … Wednesday will mark the first time since 1964 that Toronto begins the year against its most recent spring playoff opponent. After beating Detroit for the Stanley Cup that year, the Leafs topped the Wings 5-3 at the Olympia to open the 1964-65 schedule.
lhornby@postmedia.com
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