Embarrassing scenes at Scotiabank Arena involving Maple Leafs fans

With the Canadiens in town, one number is making the rounds: “70% of Scotiabank Arena is filled with Montreal fans.”

Even if that figure is closer to an eyeball estimate than an official count, the scene backs up the idea.

Red sweaters fill the lower bowl, and the upper sections alike, and Habs chants are bouncing around a building where Leafs supporters usually control the soundtrack. For an Original Six rivalry, it is the kind of image that gets people talking.

Canadiens supporters have long carried a reputation for following their team on the road, and Toronto is one of the easiest trips to make. The two cities sit a few hours apart by car or train, and the matchup carries decades of shared history.

Add a team arriving fresh off a 5-4 home win over Utah on Thursday, and the appetite for tickets is easy to understand. That mix of proximity and history has turned Toronto trips into a tradition for many Canadiens fans.

For many fans, a visit to Toronto is also a chance to see the Canadiens up close without a long flight, which makes a weekend game especially appealing. A Saturday puck drop only adds to the draw.

Players often say a loud building can shift the mood of a game. Montreal should feel a lift from hearing its own supporters, while Toronto will need to find energy without its usual home advantage. Every big save, hit and goal will test which side of the crowd is louder.

Rivalry nights are about atmosphere as much as the standings, and this one has plenty of both. Whether the noise ultimately tips the scoreboard or not, the optics are hard to ignore.

Montreal's fan base showed up in force, and Toronto's building is feeling it. Fans on both sides will be watching closely to see whether the crowd becomes a true factor as the night unfolds in Toronto.

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