In the game, though, both players continued what has been a troubling pattern with Toronto FC this season. In the first half, after not getting a call, Giovinco came at Penso from behind and grabbed the referee by both shoulders in attempt to spin him around and yell in his face. And he got nothing for it. Penso took it.

Toronto’s playoff campaign began Monday in New York, er, New Jersey – and the Reds did not show indications that they would become just another historical footnote.

You know what, America? Instead of wondering “how will we ever beat Mexican teams in the CCL?” focus on trying to be better than the Canadian teams, first. Walk before you run.

Basically, we have a radically different sports landscape in Canada as MLS is set to open the 2017 season. Unlike last season, the sports media will have its eyes squarely set on the NHL.

And, when the chips are down in a big-game situation, Toronto FC’s Sebastian Giovinco and Montreal’s Ignacio Piatti showed us why you would rather have them on your team than any of the three MVP candidates.

And, the Ottawa Fury go down as the most Canadian-friendly NASL or MLS team in North America. Canadians played an average of more than 347 minutes per game for the Fury.

The hopes for a 401-Derby Eastern Conference Final are still very much alive. The spirits of Macdonald and Cartier are strong.

Three Canadians made their NASL or MLS debuts this past weekend.

Mason Trafford will be Canadian who has played the most minutes in either MLS or NASL this season. Trafford has a 124-minute lead over Toronto FC’s Jonathan Osorio. But Osorio has just one game left on his schedule; so Osorio can’t make up the ground.

The hottest Canadian in USL, though, is Mark Anthony Gonzalez. He scored the opening goal as Swope Park Rangers beat Orange County 2-1 in extra time, despite being down to nine men.