Toronto FC: 5 things to watch in team's 1st MLS playoff game ever

Toronto FC is in Montreal to battle the Impact in a win-or-go-home playoff game tonight.

And if TFC can win its first-ever Major League Soccer playoff game, it will give playoff-mad Toronto another chance to cheer a team on home turf.

• Toronto FC preparing for double dose of Impact's Didier Drogba

Here are five things to watch for in the showdown with Montreal, which starts at 7 p.m. ET.

A world-class battle

If you're a Toronto FC fan, lock your eyes on Sebastian Giovinco.

Giovinco, the 28-year-old Italian star dubbed the "Atomic Ant" (he's five foot four), scored a league-record 22 goals and 16 assists this year — often in highlight form.

But the Montreal Impact has a weapon of its own named Didier Drogba.

The powerful Drogba — six foot two, since we're discussing height — was a star for Chelsea in the English Premier League and for Ivory Coast at the World Cup.

Since coming to the MLS, he's dominated. The forward has netted 11 goals in 11 games, including two goals scored just a minute apart against Toronto FC.

Let the fans roar

Since the team's first game, Toronto FC fans — including superfan groups like the Red Patch Boys, who travel to away games — have been among the loudest in the league.

But for eight seasons, they've had no team to cheer for in the playoffs. That changes tonight.  

Montreal has superfans of its own, and they'll make Saputo Stadium (just behind Olympic Stadium, or the Big O) plenty loud.  

Who's going to win?

Montreal enters the game with the better record, by a hair.

• CBC Sports | Key stats for Toronto FC vs. Montreal Impact playoff match

The teams have played each other five times this season, with Toronto holding a 3-2 edge in the season series.

The games have been close, too, with four of the five being decided by one goal.

However, Toronto also won twice before the Impact had Drogba in the lineup.

Mayors square off

Mayor John Tory lost a few craft beers after the Toronto Blue Jays fell to the Kansas City Royals, but that hasn't stopped the city's sport-loving chief from making a bet on this game with Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre.

On the line: the winning team's flag flying proudly above the city hall of the vanquished rival.

Tory even did a little trash tweeting, posting "@torontofc red suits Montreal very well!"

Coderre, however, appears to be the bigger soccer fan, frequently tweeting "Allez Impact!" and even retweeting great fan Photoshop jobs like the one below.

Canada well-represented

No matter who wins the Toronto-Montreal showdown, Canada will be well-represented in the next round of the MLS playoffs.

The Vancouver Whitecaps finished second overall in the league's Western Conference, earning a first-round bye.

In MLS playoff structure, the winner of the first round automatically gets to play two more games in the conference semifinal — one at home and one on the road. That means if Toronto FC can eke out a victory in Montreal, it will take on either the New York Red Bulls or the Columbus Crew SC on home turf.