Canada Shakes: Montreal Canadiens Fans Trigger Earthquakes Celebrating NHL Playoffs Win Over Buffalo
The Montreal Canadiens’ 3-2 overtime win on Monday against the Buffalo Sabres literally made the Earth move.
Might seem smalltime to LA residents, but Natural Resources Canada seismographs registered tremors of 0.5 on on the Richter scale during both the May 16 at-home NHL playoff in the Canadian metropolis and similar shakes during the away game on May 18. According to sensors at Collège Jean-de-Brébeuf and McQuill University, the multiple small earthquakes and seismic activity occurred during primetime ET goals scored by the Original Six team in their Stanley Cup second round down-to-the-wire battle with the formidable Sabres.
Both institutions are fairly close to the Canadiens’ Bell Centre home in downtown Montreal. The legendary arena had 21,000 fans inside and 20,000 fans outside on both nights — and they weren’t sitting on their hands, if you know what I mean?
In moves familiar to Los Angeles residents, Habs supporters commonly riot if their team wins or loses. Like the City of Angels, Montreal sits on a significant fault line. In the case of the ancient city (by North American standards), it is the Western Quebec Seismic Zone.
And it can shake and stir.
Last night, even with the Canadiens winning Game 7 in the 3-3 tied series over the border in Buffalo, seasoned Montreal cops were deployed in force around the Bell Centre and other watch parties.
The first two goals by Montreal saw a huge reaction by hometown hockey fans with strong seismic reactions. When Canadiens forward Alex Newhook scored the winning goal less than 10 minutes into OT, the célébration by the thousands of fans caused those sensitive sensors to peak again.
After the game ended, riot police moved in to contain some trash can tossing and fireworks setting fans and chemical gas was unleashed. The Montreal Gazette’s Harry North was on the streets when the celebration (and police reaction) of the Canadiens to the Eastern Conference finals went down.
Heading into the next round against the Carolina Hurricanes with Game 1 on May 21 in Raleigh, NC, the Canadiens are far from the only team to cause a quake or two.
The 60,400-strong fan jamboree in the May 2025 Premier League title win by Liverpool over Tottenham Hotspurs generated at 1.74 reading when Alexis Mac Allister put The Reds ahead 2-1. Of course, as many a metal and pop fan can tell you, that’s weak sauce. Very weak compared to the 2.3 seismic activity Taylor Swift devotees created in at the ‘Shake It Off’ star’s Seattle shows on July 2023 her Eras tour stop. That could be Emerald City fans — as several Seahawks games have registered such shakes as well.
BTW – the only team from the Great North still in this year’s Stanley Cup playoffs, the Canadiens have not won the iconic trophy since 1993. The best of seven games Eastern Conference series will be shown on TNT and truTV.
