It's a given that if the NHL is able to complete the 2019-20 season and award the Stanley Cup this summer, its games will be played without crowds.
That doesn't mean they can't have crowd noise, though.
And the competition just might be enhanced if there is some. At the very least, the viewing experience for those watching on TV and online would be.
Several games in the Bundesliga, Germany's top soccer league, that were televised Sunday proved that. Although no fans were present in the stadiums, there were chants and cheers and the general din associated with a well-attended sporting event.