Home crowds reputedly don't make much difference to the outcome of a game.

Now, before you jump down my throat, I'm not saying that home ice isn't an advantage, its just not in the way people think. I recently read an article (an English one, but covering many sports including the NHL) that had delved into what gives teams an advantage at home.

The argument goes as follows - teams which have just moved to a new stadium do not have as good a record as they normally do at home. It seems that a good record at home is more due to the players being used to the stadium than due to the home fans getting behind them. In a new arena, the away team are just as used to the surroundings, and thus perform on a more level playing field.

I'd love to test this theory out on the Avs' record after moving to the Pepsi Centre, but I can't seem to find a game by game breakdown of anything preceding the 2000-01 season. So, for now this theory is somewhat untested.

Just thought I would throw that out there. Of course, it doesn't mean the Avs don't have an advantage at the Can (the altitude alone has to be important), and I don't expect anyone at the game to shout any less. Perhaps the message should be that they shout a little louder to make sure that the they make a difference.