The Canadiens may be in Buffalo for Game 5, but back home, Montreal is already deep in playoff territory.
With the second-round series tied 2-2 against the Sabres, the city’s support for the bleu-blanc-rouge is showing up everywhere — from grocery store aisles and suburban parking lots to hockey card shops where even stop signs have become part of the playoff conversation.
In Laval, CardChasers, a sports card shop specializing in hockey cards, shared a social media video that quickly circulated online.
In the video, stop signs were temporarily covered with the word “Dobeš,” a reference to Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobeš and his ability to shut the door during the team’s playoff run.
The shop emphasized the stunt was done strictly in good fun and only for filming, with all signage returned to normal afterward.
It reflected the broader mood around Montreal, where fans have been finding creative ways to show support for the team during the playoff run.
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Adam Babalis, a sports breaker at CardChasers, said the idea came from seeing another fan create a similar sign during a game.
“We decided to apply a little bit of culture around the city because it’s the time of the year where the Montreal Canadiens are in the playoffs,” he said. “The city is extremely excited because we have such an exciting team.”
Babalis said the store wanted to bring that playoff energy into the streets of Laval.
“We saw a fan actually had the Dobeš stop sign during the game, so we said let’s take what he did and do it actually across the city,” he said. “So we posted Dobeš on the stop sign because he’s stopping every puck.”
He added that the signs were removed immediately after filming.
“It was just for the video — we took it down right away,” he said.
For Babalis, the excitement surrounding the Canadiens goes beyond one playoff run. He believes fans see this roster as the beginning of something bigger.
“We really believe in this team,” he said. “If it doesn’t come this year, it’ll come next year or the year after that. We’re extremely young, and the city’s behind them completely.”
He described the playoff atmosphere in Montreal as impossible to miss.
“Especially on game day, if you don’t see a Habs jersey on every second person that walks by, it’s a miracle,” he said. “Around this time, the city comes alive.”
Looking ahead to Game 5, Babalis said confidence remains high despite the Game 4 loss.
“Unless the Zamboni driver scores, we should win the game,” he said with a laugh. “We’re the much better team, and we’ve shown it.”
He also pointed to the growing popularity of Dobeš among fans, comparing the excitement around the rookie goaltender to the city’s longtime admiration for Carey Price.
“It’s great to see how we believe in Dobeš as much as we did in him,” he said. “I think it’s just a testament to what we believe Dobeš can become with the Montreal Canadiens.”
At the Supermarché PA location on Boulevard Samson, a Canadiens-themed display was built by stacking soda cans into a red, white and blue arrangement inspired by the team’s colours, using silver cans in place of white where needed.
Some of the cans were then wrapped in white paper to spell out “Go Habs Go!,” forming a handmade message of support during the team’s playoff run.
The display has drawn attention from shoppers as playoff excitement continues spilling into everyday spaces across the Montreal area.
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Operations employee Joanna Erimos said the display was created as a way to bring playoff spirit into the store.
“We wanted to show our support for the Canadiens, especially during the playoff season,” she said. “It’s just a small way to show our support.”
She said customers and employees have embraced the display.
“The clients love it, the employees love it,” she said. “It brings the playoff atmosphere here, it brings everyone together.”
Erimos added that many customers have been stopping to photograph the display and post it online.
“We have clients taking pictures, posting it on social media and tagging us,” she said. “Everyone loves it.”
Like many fans across Montreal, she remains optimistic heading into Game 5.
“It’s going to be Habs in six, that’s for sure,” she said.
Grocery manager Diego Urena said the playoff atmosphere has created a sense of unity throughout the city.
“It’s actually very special to see,” he said. “We see it everywhere. I think it brings the community together and it’s very fun to watch.”
He predicted the series could still go the distance.
“I say Game 7,” he said. “I think it’s a little bit rough, but I think we got this.”
In Brossard, Marché d’Alimentation Martin Lamarre (IGA) has added its own touch of humour and rivalry to the playoff atmosphere.
The store added blue and white detailing to its signage and designated a parking space at the far end of the lot for “Buffalo fans” — a playful jab that underscores just how invested local businesses have become in the series.
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While Montreal continues celebrating the playoff run back home, the Canadiens now return to enemy territory for a crucial Game 5 at KeyBank Center on Thursday night.
With the Sabres regaining momentum after tying the series, Montreal will be looking to establish itself early and avoid playing from behind.
Special teams could once again play a major role.
Although Cole Caufield scored once on the power play in Game 4 and the Canadiens generated several chances with the man advantage, Montreal struggled to fully capitalize. Buffalo, meanwhile, converted twice on the power play and made the most of its opportunities.
The tactical battle has also tightened as the series has progressed.
After falling behind earlier in the matchup, the Sabres adjusted their structure and began playing a tighter defensive style under head coach Lindy Ruff — a change that helped even the series. The Canadiens are now expected to counter with adjustments of their own, something the team has consistently managed throughout both the regular season and playoffs.
One player to watch for Montreal is forward Alex Newhook, who has been red hot offensively since Game 7 against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The St. John’s native has scored six goals in his last five playoff games.
For Buffalo, forward Zach Benson continues to create problems for the Canadiens after scoring the go-ahead goal on his birthday in Game 4. The Chilliwack, B.C., native has recorded four points in the series.
Former Montreal Canadiens player and BPM Sports host Georges Laraque says Montreal has been the stronger team in its series against Buffalo, even if the results have not always reflected that on the scoreboard.
So far, he believes the Canadiens have consistently outplayed the Sabres and could easily be leading the series. He points to a couple of unlucky bounces in Game 4 but insists the overall level of play has been encouraging.
“So far against the Sabres, the Habs are playing really good,” he said, noting that they “could have been up 3–1 in the series easy,” but instead returned to Buffalo tied. Still, he added, “They’ve been the better team against the Sabres, and they don’t have to feel any bad about the fact that they went back to Buffalo with the series equal 2–2.”
He also emphasized confidence and goaltending as key factors.
“They’re playing way better, we have better goaltending, and I think that the confidence with the players is still going to be very high for the rest of the series.”
For Laraque, what stands out most is how a young, still-developing roster is handling playoff pressure without looking overwhelmed.
He says the Canadiens are still in the middle of a rebuild, but are already showing maturity beyond their years.
“Just the fact that the way they’ve been playing so far, we’re talking about a team that is in the process of rebuilding is not even done yet. Sometimes when you have young guys, you think it takes more time, but the maturity they’ve been showing so far, that’s what’s giving this great success.
“You know that Montreal is, if it’s not this year, it’s a couple of years away from winning the Cup, but at minimum you have a playoff team for the next 10 years, easy, without even breaking a sweat, because of the young core of talent that they have on this team.”
A key part of that progress, he says, is goaltending and the flexibility it creates for the future.
“Who would have thought that without Montembeault, with Dobes, with rookie goaltending, we’d make it this far in the playoffs? And now next year with the tandem of Dobes and Fowler, you’ll have one of the best tandem in the NHL at the lowest price.”
Still, Laraque says the story is not only about the future — it is also about what the team is doing for the city right now.
He describes the Bell Centre atmosphere as among the loudest in the NHL, with energy that spreads across Montreal.
“Just the noise at the rink is the loudest barn in the NHL. We’ve seen how high the level is, and the whole city is buzzing around this team,” he said. “In Montreal, the Canadiens are religion.”
During playoff runs, he explains, the team becomes a shared identity across the city.
“They’re talking about a team, they’re rallying together, all the sports bars with TVs are packed, people are celebrating together, and you see families, kids, people wearing red, wearing flags on their cars. It’s so good for a city, and it’s so good to see people together celebrating.”
He adds that playoff hockey often introduces new fans to the sport simply through atmosphere and emotion.
“A lot of people didn’t know much about hockey… now they try a couple of games, they watch a playoff game with friends, and now they become hooked. It’s just playoff time — it’s a magical moment.”
And he believes that momentum will continue to grow.
“To see this passion… they become hooked, they become fans, and it’s so good. And this is just the beginning… it has a chance to become a dynasty because of the young core guys that they have.”
Looking ahead to the next game, Laraque says execution will be the deciding factor.
“They just have to capitalize on their chances, keep playing as hard as they can… Buffalo opens up the play, the play is wide open, so we have so many chances to score.”
Despite the setback, he says confidence remains high heading into Game 5.
“I think that the guys are still confident about the fact they could pull it off and I think that in Buffalo, game five, they’re going to go get it.”
Finally, reflecting personally, Laraque says the Canadiens remain deeply meaningful.
“When you’re born here, you want to see the city… and you want to see the home team succeed,” he said. “It’s been a long time… so it’d be awesome to see Montreal bring back the Cup to Canada.”
