It took the Lightning years of winning and promoting to cultivate the market enough that crowds at certain home dates – particularly against Montreal, Toronto, Detroit and Philadelphia – were not dominated by opposing teams’ fans. With the Lightning finishing with the worst record in the NHL last season and struggling again, it appears that work has been undone, as thousands wore Canadiens gear on Tuesday at St. Pete Times Forum.
A “Go Habs Go” chant resonated down the escalator. English might have been the second language inside the building. Maybe it's good for the economy, though.