Canucks-Leafs crowd of 17,867 is smallest for a Toronto visit since 2000

The last time fewer people watched the Toronto Maple Leafs in Vancouver, Henrik Sedin was scoring his first NHL goal. The announced crowd for Saturday's Canucks-Leafs game at Rogers Arena was 17,867, Daily Hive Vancouver reported, the lowest for a Toronto visit since Oct. 16, 2000, when 16,496 attended. Games played under pandemic restrictions are excluded from that comparison.

Saturday's number was more than a thousand lower than the previous year. The game started at 4 p.m. on Halloween, which Daily Hive said made it hard for families with young trick-or-treaters to attend. It was also the most expensive game of the season in the Canucks' six-tier pricing system, with the cheapest tickets listed above $200 beforehand.

Daily Hive said attendance is down generally this season. The Canucks have topped 18,000 only once in seven games, on opening night against Edmonton (18,677). The Calgary game on Oct. 3, the second home game of the season, drew 16,591, the first crowd under 17,000 in eight years. Quinn Hughes' return to Vancouver drew 17,560. Over the past four seasons, the Canucks' combined average was 18,750.

Last season the Canucks won 10 of 42 home games, the NHL's worst home record in 30 years. The get-in price dropped this season, but the minimum for select games was still $83 when tickets went on sale this summer.