Playing at home can be a real advantage when the crowd wants to play their role in the game. The Ottawa Senators were hosting their most heated divisional rival in the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday night in Ottawa, and the home crowd certainly didn't pull any punches, but before I reveal what the fans at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa were chanting, I should first provide some context.
The chants seemed to have an effect on the captain who was -3 with 3 shots in 17:39 of ice time. The trio of Tavares, William Nylander and Tyler Bertuzzi looked flat, getting outmatched on most occasions during the game.
The 33-year-old Tavares carries a cap hit of $11M until the end of the 2024-25 season. In 49 games this season Tavares has scored 15 goals and 40 points. Tavares came into the game red hot, producing 3 goals and 6 points in his last three games, but on Saturday night, the fans may have gotten the best of him.
