For Maple Leafs fans, this Vancouver bar is a home away from home during the NHL playoffs

Fans of the Toronto Maple Leafs are gearing up for a big Saturday night that could see their team win an NHL playoff series for the first time in nearly 20 years.

It will be a busy night at The Regal Beagle, a Vancouver bar that has been a hub for Leafs fans formore than a decade.

The Regal Beagle was packed Thursday night as Leafsfans watched their teamdrop a 4-2 decision to the Tampa Bay Lightning at Scotiabank Arena to force Game 6 in the teams' first-round series.

"We're playing a little tight, so I don't love it," said Leafs fan Matt Hamilton early on in Thursday's game.

The Maple Leafs, as the team's fans know all too well, haven't won the Stanley Cup since 1967 andlast won a playoff series in 2004. Toronto has struggled in the post-season ever since, including an infamous Game 7 meltdown against Boston in the first round of the 2013 playoffs.

"It's in my DNA now where I'm expecting the worst," Hamilton said.

A Leafs banner hangs behind the bar at The Regal Beagle along with jerseys of former Leafs goaltender Curtis Joseph and current team captain John Tavares.

Manager ClarkHowsonwas disappointed by Thursday's result, but managed to find comfortin the company offellow Leafs fans.

"This is a home away from home," said Howson, who is originally from Oakville, Ont., the same town where team captain Tavares grew up.

"That's howthe Beagle works with us.It's a very family-friendly andhonest place."

While Howson was hopingthe Leafs would clinch on Thursday night, he can take solace in the fact that Saturday night'sGame 6 will begood for business.

He expects a packed house, butsays space will be made for longtime customerswho followthe team through thick and thin.

"It's basically all the regulars that have been here the whole season that we prioritize towards letting them in," he said. "It'svery loyalty-based."

He said The Regal Beagle's reputation as a place for Leafs fans developed over time. The bar's owner is from B.C., and around 2010 he gave the thumbs-up to showing Leafsgames with the sound on.

"Itjust kind of picked up," Howson said. "We started with about 20 people whowatched all the games all the time toa packed room all the time."

No matter what happens in the playoffs, Howson says he'll still follow the Leafs. He's been a fan of the team his whole life andhas no plans on stopping.

"The whole thing is we haven't won for 55 years ... you can't quit on something that you've been put so much time into, you know," he said. "It doesn't make any sense."