IN PHOTOS: Fans pack the Bell Centre for Montreal Canadiens–Buffalo Sabres Game 7 watch party
“Best feeling ever,” said a Montreal Canadiens fan after the Habs eliminated the Buffalo Sabres in Game 7 in overtime to advance to the Eastern Conference Final. Adriana Gentile reports.
Hockey fans packed the Bell Centre in Montreal for a massive playoff watch party, turning the downtown arena into a full-scale celebration as they gathered for Game 7 between the Montreal Canadiens and the Buffalo Sabres.
With the Canadiens on the road for the decisive game, supporters filled every section of the building to take in the moment together, watching the action unfold on the giant screens inside the arena.
The crowd remained engaged from puck drop to the final buzzer, reacting in real time to every chance, hit, and save.
Chants of “Go Habs Go” echoed throughout the Bell Centre at key moments in the game, growing louder as the tension built in the third period and overtime.
The atmosphere felt more like a playoff home game than a remote viewing, with fans standing, waving jerseys, and erupting together on big plays.
The game itself ended in dramatic fashion, with the Canadiens securing a 3–2 overtime victory over the Sabres to advance in the playoffs. The winning goal sent the arena into a full eruption, with fans celebrating as if the goal had been scored on home ice.
The watch party, held for a second time after the first event sold out in under an hour, once again drew a capacity crowd from the lower bowl to the upper levels, underscoring the demand for shared playoff experiences in Montreal.
Hockey fans in Montreal pack the Bell Centre for a Game 7 watch party between the Canadiens and the Buffalo Sabres on May 18, 2026. (Adriana Gentile, CityNews)Mascots Youppi! and METAL! were seen on the ice during the Game 7 watch party at the Bell Centre, entertaining fans as the crowd reacted to key moments of the Canadiens’ matchup against the Buffalo Sabres on May 18, 2026. (Adriana Gentile, CityNews)Hockey fans in Montreal pack the Bell Centre for a Game 7 watch party between the Canadiens and the Buffalo Sabres on May 18, 2026. (Adriana Gentile, CityNews)Hockey fans in Montreal pack the Bell Centre for a Game 7 watch party between the Canadiens and the Buffalo Sabres on May 18, 2026. (Adriana Gentile, CityNews)Hockey fans in Montreal pack the Bell Centre for a Game 7 watch party between the Canadiens and the Buffalo Sabres on May 18, 2026. (Adriana Gentile, CityNews)Hockey fans in Montreal pack the Bell Centre for a Game 7 watch party between the Canadiens and the Buffalo Sabres on May 18, 2026. (Adriana Gentile, CityNews)Hockey fans in Montreal pack the Bell Centre for a Game 7 watch party between the Canadiens and the Buffalo Sabres on May 18, 2026. (Adriana Gentile, CityNews)Hockey fans in Montreal pack the Bell Centre for a Game 7 watch party between the Canadiens and the Buffalo Sabres on May 18, 2026. (Adriana Gentile, CityNews)Hockey fans in Montreal pack the Bell Centre for a Game 7 watch party between the Canadiens and the Buffalo Sabres on May 18, 2026. (Adriana Gentile, CityNews)Hockey fans in Montreal pack the Bell Centre for a Game 7 watch party between the Canadiens and the Buffalo Sabres on May 18, 2026. (Adriana Gentile, CityNews)Hockey fans in Montreal pack the Bell Centre for a Game 7 watch party between the Canadiens and the Buffalo Sabres on May 18, 2026. (Adriana Gentile, CityNews)Hockey fans in Montreal pack the Bell Centre for a Game 7 watch party between the Canadiens and the Buffalo Sabres on May 18, 2026. (Adriana Gentile, CityNews)Hockey fans in Montreal pack the Bell Centre for a Game 7 watch party between the Canadiens and the Buffalo Sabres on May 18, 2026. (Adriana Gentile, CityNews)Hockey fans in Montreal pack the Bell Centre for a Game 7 watch party between the Canadiens and the Buffalo Sabres on May 18, 2026. (Adriana Gentile, CityNews)A fan holding a “You’re simply Dobeš” poster at the Bell Centre during the Game 7 watch party between the Montreal Canadiens and the Buffalo Sabres on May 18, 2026. (Adriana Gentile, CityNews)A fan holding a “No traffic on Hutson’s lane” poster at the Bell Centre during the Game 7 watch party between the Montreal Canadiens and the Buffalo Sabres on May 18, 2026. (Adriana Gentile, CityNews)
Hockey fans in Montreal pack the Bell Centre for a Game 7 watch party between the Canadiens and the Buffalo Sabres on May 18, 2026. (Adriana Gentile, CityNews)
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