In Montreal, Stu Cowan writes the "flame on the Canadiens’ torch has been totally doused" this season, as fans have "reached the point where they're cheering after the Canadiens lose in the hope they can tank and get the No. 1 pick at this year's NHL Draft." The team has "scored one goal in 14 games this season and been shut out 12 times while playing a boring -- and losing -- brand of hockey." It "seemed unthinkable not so long ago that there would be empty seats at the Bell Centre." Cowan: "The bigger danger for the Canadiens is that fans stop caring." This is a team "in need of a major rebuild" (MONTREAL GAZETTE, 4/5).
TOOTHLESS BITE? In Buffalo, James Fink notes Sabres fans are "disgruntled" and have "endured seven years since the team last made" the playoffs. Getting the team’s 16,000 season tickets renewed "will be a tough sell" heading into the offseason, as there often were as many "empty blue seats among those filled" at Key Bank Center. The Sabres this season "sold 719,434 tickets for a 17,985 per game average," down 15% from last year’s 18,141 average (BIZJOURNALS.com, 4/5).
KNIGHT'S HONOR: Golden Knights President Kerry Bubolz said playoff ticket sales have "gone incredibly well." Bubolz: "Our core objective was we wanted to reward our best fans with the best price for the playoffs." He "would not reveal the number of fans who opted into not taking the Knights Vow," a promise by season-ticket holders not to resell tickets in exchange for a discount. But visiting fans "can expect a smaller inventory of tickets on the secondary market than normal" (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 4/3).
