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The Maple Leafs might not have a full house for tomorrow night’s free game against the Boston Bruins at the Air Canada Centre.
All tickets have been distributed, but as was the case last year when a couple of thousand seats were empty, not everyone puts full value on something free. The Leafs didn’t consider last year’s lower than expected turnout a fan backlash and are predicting at least 90% capacity of the 18,819 seats tonight.
“We’ll probably have some no shows, just like a regular game,” said Tom Anselmi, executive vice president and COO of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment Ltd.
The game is co-sponsored with Coke, but the Leafs will sacrifice about $2 million in revenue for the gesture.
Loose Leafs
Luke Schenn and Francois Beauchemin were paired for a time as the shutdown defensive tandem at training camp in Etobicoke yesterday, a logical sequence with Tomas Kaberle and Mike Komisarek playing together the past two days ... Nazem Kadri scored twice yesterday and Colton Orr bulled in for a goal ... Jonas Gustavsson’s team beat Vesa Toskala’s, but the two goalies duelling for the No. 1 job weren’t in net for the whole game ... At the invitation of GM Brian Burke, Windsor Spitfires and national under-18 coach Bob Boughner was a guest instructor yesterday, as was coach Rico Blasi of the Miami University (Ohio) Redhawks...Coach Ron Wilson says he has pencilled in Wayne Primeau as the fourth-line centre ... Winger Bill Thomas, who had 20 points in 56 games with Phoenix and Pittsburgh in brief stints the past few years, is in camp on tryout.
