Our always exciting Habs are back in the playoffs and they didn’t just creep in through the back door this year. When the Bleu, Blanc et Rouge are still playing in the spring it is like the city really has its mojo on. You can hear it on the Metro. You can see it in the classic original six jerseys popping up on Saint-Catherine. And if you tried to snag some tickets to the official watch party outside the Bell Centre, you already know: Games 3 and 4 are sold out! But worry not, here you will find several other options to catch your beloved Habs outside of a trip to the Bell Centre.
Montreal plays Tampa Bay in Round 1, with the first home game on April 24. Whether you’re looking for a giant screen, a cheap pitcher, or a dive bar full of strangers who’ll hug you after a Caufield goal, here’s where to watch the Habs playoffs in Montreal right now.
The FREE watch parties
You don’t need to spend a dime to feel the playoff energy. The Canadiens are running two free setups outside the Bell Centre for every home game.
The Official Watch Party (Street Edition) takes over Avenue des Canadiens with a big screen and room for thousands. It opens at 5:00 PM on home game nights. The catch? You need a free ticket, and capacity is limited. Games 3 and 4 are already gone. If the series goes to Game 6 on May 1, expect those tickets to disappear just as fast.
Canadiens Plaza / Fan Jam (presented by La Cage) is the pregame party right outside the Bell Centre. Also free, first-come, first-served. Opens at 5:00 PM and runs until puck drop. There’s a DJ, a barber, hockey trivia with prizes from Uber, and yes, a permanent tattoo station if you’re feeling committed. No ticket needed, just show up early. Click the image above for a direct link to more information.
Habs Fan TV at Time Out Market Montréal is the wildcard. HFTV host Alex Rougas does live commentary on a giant screen inside the Eaton Centre food hall, with giveaways and a post-game show. Free admission. The Market has seven bars and food from some of Montreal’s best chefs, so you’re eating well regardless of the score.
Walking distance from the Bell Centre
If you want the game-day energy without the outdoor crowd, these bars are all a short walk from the arena.
La Cage Brasserie Sportive (1212 Avenue des Canadiens) is the obvious pick. Right at the Bell Centre, a Quebec institution, and on home game nights the noise from the plaza bleeds straight through the walls. Get there two hours early during the playoffs or don’t bother. La Cage is also the presenting sponsor of the Fan Jam outside, so the whole block is their territory.
McLean’s Pub (1210 Rue Peel) is a downtown classic. Historic pub, solid food, and they do 3-litre and 10-litre beer towers. That’s the kind of commitment a Habs playoff game deserves! We approve.
La Belle & La Boeuf sits right on Avenue des Canadiens adjacent to the Bell Centre. Burgers, poutine, and a crowd that’s already fired up before the anthem.
Lloyd is worth knowing about for one reason: they run pre-game drink specials before every single Habs game and Bell Centre event. If you’re pregaming before heading to the arena or settling in your own ‘espace’ for the night, the pricing helps.
The loudest rooms in the city
Some bars just hit different when the Habs are winning.
Chez Serge (5301 Boulevard Saint-Laurent) is not for a quiet night. Beer bongs. A mechanical bull. Bartenders dancing on the tables during intermissions. If the Habs score in overtime here, you might lose your voice and your dignity cheering on Suzuki, Caufield and friends. Worth it.
Champs Bar & Restaurant (3956 Boulevard Saint-Laurent) runs three floors of TVs covering every wall. They do daily deals on pub grub during Habs games, so the place fills up before you can sing “Na, Na, Na, Na, Hey, Hey, Hey, Goodbye!”
Station des Sports (862 Sainte-Catherine East, The Village) has wall-to-wall screens, modern décor, and prices that won’t wreck you. It does the sports bar thing well and doesn’t try to be anything else.
The neighbourhood spots
Not everyone wants a mega-bar. Sometimes the best playoff watching happens at the place around the corner where everybody knows the bartender, and your next order!
Aux Verres Stérilisés on Rachel in the Plateau is the one. Neighbourhood tavern, multiple screens, and the crowd gets genuinely invested. La Banquise is right nearby for post-game poutine at midnight. You’re welcome.
L’Barouf on Saint-Denis draws hockey and soccer fans who get loud enough to spill out onto the sidewalk during big moments. If the Habs score, you’ll hear it from down the block.
Bishop & Bagg (52 Rue Saint-Viateur Ouest, Mile End) is for the fan who also wants to eat well. About 50 seats, TVs near every table, a cocktail menu that actually tries, and a gin collection that’s surprisingly deep. Tastet called it “one of the best places to watch hockey while eating well in Montreal.” Hard to argue.
Bar de Courcelle (4685 Rue Notre-Dame Ouest, Saint-Henri) has been around for over 50 years. It’s a dive, a good one. No frills, cheap drinks, and the guy next to you has probably been cheering for the Habs since the Dryden, Lafleur, and Robinson years.
Nacho Libre in the Plateau is colourful, loud, and screens the games through a big projector. Playoff hockey without taking itself too seriously.
The series schedule
Mark these down. The Montreal Canadiens face the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Eastern Conference First Round.
- Game 1: April 19, 5:45 PM, Montreal at Tampa Bay
- Game 2: April 21, 7:00 PM, Montreal at Tampa Bay
- Game 3: April 24, 7:00 PM, Tampa Bay at Montreal
- Game 4: April 26, 7:00 PM, Tampa Bay at Montreal
- Game 5: April 29 (if necessary), Montreal at Tampa Bay
- Game 6: May 1 (if necessary), Tampa Bay at Montreal
- Game 7: May 3 (if necessary), Montreal at Tampa Bay
Games 3, 4, and 6 are your home dates. That’s when the city turns up.
Go Habs Go.
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