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National anthem gesture before Canadiens game sparks heated reaction

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Skyler Walker
May 11, 2026  (6:18)
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Montreal Canadiens nation anthem game one
Photo credit: Screenshot

The Bell Centre crowd gave the Canadiens a jolt before Game 3, and the building was already shaking before the opening faceoff.

During the Canadian anthem, Montreal fans took over the moment.

Their voices rose so loudly that they nearly swallowed the singer, turning a standard pregame routine into something much bigger.

It didn't feel forced.

It felt raw, loud, and completely Montreal.

That clip is now moving fast online, and it's easy to see why.

For fans in Quebec, it was the kind of scene that lands right in the chest and stays there.

It also sent a message beyond the rink.

The Bell Centre reminded everyone what the national anthem can be

This is the atmosphere that has always set the Bell Centre apart when the stakes rise.

The noise wasn't just background sound. It felt like pressure, pride, and emotion all hitting at once.

And yes, it also felt like a response to everything that has been said about Montreal's crowd and its edge in a playoff setting.

A part of the moment was almost perfect.

"Fans at Bell Centre drowning out anthem singer for O Canada at Bell Centre"

The only thing that could have pushed it even further was if the singer had stepped back and let the crowd carry the anthem all the way through on its own.

Imagine 21,105 voices finishing it together with no interruption.

That would have been one of those scenes replayed for years.

Still, this wasn't about criticism.

The performance itself was strong.

The point is simply that the crowd had fully seized the moment, and you could feel the building wanting to take it to the finish.

That's what made it special.

For the Canadiens, that kind of energy matters. It can hit the bench, wake up a shift, and give a team a push before the game even settles in.

Game 3 started in the most electric setting possible.

Montreal fans didn't wait for the action to create a turning point.

They built one themselves before the puck even dropped.