The Rock makes surprise appearance at Maple Leafs home opener

Everyone in Scotiabank Arena on Thursday was in close enough proximity to smell what The Rock was cooking.

Actor and former wrestling superstar Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson made a surprise appearance at the Toronto Maple Leafs home opener, firing up the crowd before their game against the Washington Capitals.

Johnson, one of the biggest movie stars of the past two decades, was in the house to "help out" a Maple Leafs in-game host.

When he emerged from the tunnel wearing a Maple Leafs jacket, he let out a monster

to a roaring crowd.
"I didn't (know he'd be here). It was a TV timeout, kind of minding my own business and I look up and The Rock comes flying out of nowhere," Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews said. "He got the building going pretty good. It's pretty cool to see a guy like that come by and obviously get the crowd going. It was pretty sweet."
The Rock then let the crowd in a "Let's Go Leafs" chant. The usual chant is "Go Leafs Go" but for The Rock, an exception was made by fans.
Afterward, Johnson, who is on tour promoting his new superhero movie "Black Adam" talked glowingly about the experience of being around the

.
-NHL.com Independent Correspondent Dave McCarthy contributed to this report.