WARMINGTON: Fans revved up as Maple Leaf storm dulls Lightning

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Tampa Bay may have brought the lightning but it was LeafsNation who brought the thunderstorm.

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What an atmosphere inside the Scotiabank Arena and outside in Maple Leafs Square. In what was a bloody, pugilistic slugfest on the ice, outside it was a spirited group that brought their playoff grit and fighting spirit.

They had lots of cheer about and never stopped.

And the Maple Leafs needed it early in Game 1 against the Tampa Bay Lightning when something happened in a playoff game that Leaf fans have seen before: No. 43 smashing an opponent into the boards — sending him to the dressing room and facing possible suspension.

“That number is cursed,” joked Joe Deluca.

Everybody knew that Nazem Kadri wasn’t delivering the hit but even though it was Kyle Clifford, it sure looked like Naz-sty.

“I think the Leafs should get rid of that No. 43,” he told Toronto Copper. “It’s bad luck.”

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But the Leafs managed to fight through that adversity and send a message to the two-time Stanley Cup champions.

“It’s just a great atmosphere,” said Mayor John Tory.

Dressed as US President Abraham Lincoln, he was with his friends who dressed up like Colonel Sanders, Ron Burgandy, Tiger Woods, Elvis and Auston Powers.

“We have been doing this for 20 years,” he said.

There was lots to cheer about (as the Leafs won Game 1 in a route.)

Needless to say, as they always do, Maple Leafs fans are already thinking about that Stanley Cup parade that has eluded the city for 55 years. It’s ironic that this game was on the 55th anniversary of them last winning the cup in 1967.

“I had no idea that this was the anniversary,” said Anita Kumar, who with her pal Ashley Arguelles managed to get the tickets online to be inside the square. “That’s so cool.”

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Ashley is hopeful not only will the Leafs get through the first round but be victorious after four rounds.

“I have a feeling about it,” she said.

Deluca and his wife Gianna Priore have been coming to this square for the past five playoff seasons — even when it was lean in this pandemic seasons — and I know nothing is guaranteed.

“But I like the way they are playing,” said Deluca.

Win or lose, Maple Leaf Square is a great atmosphere that brings out families and regular fans — many who have never been inside for a game but want to feel like they are part of it.

“We would never be able to buy tickets for the five of us,” said Krista Janes, who was there with husband Justin and their kids Kayden, 13, Myah, 9 and Jesse, 6. “This way we can all watch it together .”

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If I can make one suggestion, it would be a good thing to open up the square again to regular fans who just want to drop by. The square now has a locked-down, closed, exclusive, invitation-only event feel and that is not what it was originally conceived as pre-COVID-19. It’s like there is a giant mask around it.

Perhaps this is why in Zone 2, down Bremner Blvd., there was just one person watching. His name was Venkat Vivek and even he thought it was strange that he was the lone fan in the overflow section. The good news is the good security and event staff brought him into the main square. If there is not a way to open the main square up to everybody, perhaps the next best thing to do is to make sure in Zone 2 there are refreshments, hot dog, pop and beer stands as well. This street party has to be a street party for everybody instead of a digital, corporate approach.

You build it for everybody and everybody will eat. Certainly the fans there for Game 1 showed the kind of noise a playoff thunderstorm can make.