John E. Sokolowski-USA Today Sports
On Monday night, the Boston Bruins and Toronto Maple Leafs hit the ice for a pivotal Game 3 contest at the Air Canada Centre.
With the series knotted up at one game apiece, the Bruins used an offensive flurry en-route to a 5-2 victory over the Maple Leafs. With the win, the Bruins regained home ice advantage, but they will now look to put Toronto on their heels in Game 4 prior to the series switching back to Boston for Game 5.
However, the story off the ice came from one fan in particular — one Maple Leafs’ fan who was seen holding a sign that certainly held a bad taste in the eyes of Boston fans.
The sign read “Toronto Stronger,” and it was obviously a play of the Boston Strong theme that has circulated — not only around the city — but throughout the country following the twin bombings at the 2013 Boston Marathon finish line just a few weeks ago. Three people were killed and over 250 were reportedly injured in the blasts, but the theme “Boston Strong” has continuously played a part in the city’s ability to return to normalcy.
Here’s a picture off of Twitter of the “Toronto Stronger” sign:
This is sports — there’s nothing wrong with the sign, but instead, what it symbolizes. It’s a play on words that is directed not only at the Boston Bruins, but at the city itself. This is a sign at a hockey game, let’s not make it a big deal. However, let’s just say that it’s a good thing that this sign was brought to a home game in Toronto or there would’ve been so truly unruly Boston fans.
Follow Paul Seaver on Twitter: @PaulSeaverRS
