It was a big night for the Montreal Canadiens, one of those playoff moments that felt like everything was on the line. They came through with a hard-fought 3-2 overtime win in Game 7 against the Buffalo Sabres and punched their ticket to the Eastern Conference Final. But right after the final whistle, the celebrations in downtown Montreal turned into chaos as police had to step in to restore order.

Just after the win, large crowds gathered near the Bell Centre area in downtown Montreal. Most fans leaving the area dispersed peacefully, but a small group became involved in an altercation with officers. They threw trash bins and bottles, according to police spokesperson Manuel Couture. Police moved in to disperse the crowd and deployed a chemical irritant near Peel Street and Ste-Catherine Street with loudspeaker warnings telling people to leave the area.

Footage and posts circulating online showed riot police pushing into sections of the crowd as tensions rose, with reports of chemical irritants being used during the dispersal. Soon after, the video went viral, rival fans called it “the worst fanbase and city in the world,” adding more heat to the moment.

This is not the first time Montreal has seen scenes like this after big playoff wins. In 2021, when the Canadiens beat the Vegas Golden Knights 3-2 in overtime to reach the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since 1993, celebrations outside the Bell Centre also turned tense.

Later, officers reported that they were encountering violence and property damage, leading to the use of tear gas. Similar flashpoints have appeared in 2026, where big wins brought huge crowds. But the win was still a big deal for the Canadiens and their playoff run.

Game 7 slips away from Buffalo after an overtime mistake sends Montreal through in a tense finish

Game 7 had everything you’d want at a night that ends a season after just one error. There was a fast tempo, extreme pressure, and neither side could afford to miss the mark. Montreal had a 2-0 lead, but Buffalo was not going to leave.

The tension inside the arena kept rising as overtime stretched on. Buffalo looked dangerous at times, Montreal stayed patient, and both teams traded chances without finding a finish. Just past the 11-minute mark of overtime, Buffalo made a costly mistake at their blue line. Alexandre Carrier jumped on it instantly and pushed forward on the right.

It took only one quick release from the left circle. The shot drilled a clean pass into the far post, beating Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. Montreal had survived. Buffalo had failed in the worst manner.

However, Montreal had experienced many things before that. They fell behind by two goals in overtime and relied heavily on Jakub Dobes to prevent them from falling away, with 37 saves to mark his season debut. Buffalo had a rough finish to a solid season turnaround that saw them struggle early to win a division title.  They pushed it all the way to Game 7 but fell short at the final moment.