COX: Letting fans in the stands won’t help the Leafs.

I can’t for the life of me understand why the NHL would allow one team to have fans when their opponent cannot. I think that severely affects the integrity of the game. It gives one team a distinct advantage. And imagine if whichever team comes out of the North has to play in the States. Every game will be a road game for that team, since I can’t believe any American city will cheer for a Canadian team. It’s not fair and I’m surprised I haven’t heard anyone else talking about this. I can’t believe I’m the only one who thinks this way.

— Craig M.

Fans in the stands is what it’s all about. If the players can’t take it, they’re in the wrong business. There were varying level of fans — from none to lots — as the season wound down and into the playoffs in American markets. All those fans didn’t stop the Leafs from getting 13 shots in overtime. They had plenty of chances to win, regardless of the number of fans.

I think the Leafs’ real problem is the fact that they are not built for real overtime playoff hockey. The Leafs are built to win regular-season three-on-three overtime and shootouts — the games where there is lots of room on the ice for players like Morgan Rielly, Mitch Marner and Auston Matthews to move around. The Leafs are the better team. However, when the real overtime arrives in the playoffs, the Leafs are not the better team. — John

I’m not sure you and I watched the same overtime. The play was almost entirely in the Montreal zone, which is what you want. They just didn’t score. Shots were 13-2 for Toronto in the extra period. They had all kinds of time and space. Montreal was exhausted. But they caught a break.

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