Since the 2019-20 season, the Canadiens have won only 37.9% of their games at the Bell Centre

The Canadiens played perhaps their best home game of the season yesterday at the Bell Centre. When you get 20 more shots than your opponent (35 to 15), you've been better than him big time.

I'm willing to believe that Connor Bedard wasn't there on the other side, but the Habs' injury list is pretty long. You can't explain everything with the simple absence of an enemy player.

What I remember most from yesterday's game—apart from Lane Hutson's brilliance and Jakub Dobes' solidity—was the group's efficiency in front of their fans. Since the start of the year, it's been complicated for the Montrealers to play at the Bell Centre.

Need I remind you of the five thaws in less than a month?

Tony Marinaro recently commented on the Habs' difficulties at the Bell Centre, pointing out that a team that wants to succeed in the playoffs doesn't crash like that in front of its fans, that it reacts better to the “stress” of its fan base.

Pierre LeBrun, his guest on the Sick Podcast, had this to say:

“The other team's players love playing in Montreal, which hurts the home team […] in the end, I agree with you: the incredible fan support in the Bell Centre should help the Canadiens.” – Pierre LeBrun

The Bell Centre has not been kind to the #GoHabsGo this season…@PierreVLeBrun: “The opposing team loves playing in Montreal, which often works against the home team.”#thesickpodcast @TonyMarinaro pic.twitter.com/HYwoF8ohHx

– The Sick Podcast with Tony Marinaro (@thesickpodcasts) December 18, 2025

In short, it's not so much fan pressure that hurts the Habs at home, but rather the fact that the opposition is too comfortable and excited to play at the Bell Centre.

It's hard to turn your arena into a fortress under these conditions. There's nothing hostile about the Bell Centre; it's just a bigger stage on which opposing players try to perform (and steal the show).

I did a little digging and let's just say that the numbers speak for themselves.

Here's the number of Habs wins at the Bell Centre, season by season:

2025-26: 9 wins out of 19 games
2024-25: 23 wins out of 41 games
2023-24: 16 wins out of 41 games
2022-23: 17 wins out of 41 games
2021-22: 11 wins out of 41 games
2020-21: 13 wins out of 28 games
2019-20: 14 wins out of 37 games

Basically, since the beginning of the COVID-19-shortened season, the Canadiens have won 50% or more of their home games only once: last year. And that explains its surprising playoff presence.

To be more precise, the Habs won only 37.9% of their games played at the Bell Centre during that period. That's barely more than one game in three.

Martin St-Louis and his staff will have to find a way to better prepare their players for their home games. The guys have to accept that they have to play simply and in the right way, with the right intentions, and not be so desperate to put on a show and impress the people in the stands.

Zachary Bolduc was successful for the first time in front of Montreal fans yesterday; I hope he remembers the recipe and shares it with his teammates.

As for the fans, they have to find a way to make the Bell Centre experience less pleasant for opposing teams. The players from the other 31 teams can't constantly say that their favorite arena is downtown Montreal. Come on!

The Canadiens will be six points off the lead in the East, but also six points off last place in the Association. The 22 games played at the Bell Centre will make all the difference between now and the end of the season.