Montreal barber says Canadiens playoff fever hits city like never before

Eighty‑five‑year‑old barber Domenico “Ménick” Perrazino, a longtime fixture on Montreal’s Plateau, says the current Canadiens playoff run has sparked a level of citywide enthusiasm he has never experienced. Fans crowd the Bell Centre and spill onto sidewalks, while local businesses join the celebration – the historic Rialto Theatre hosts free watch parties, Hydro‑Québec dims its logo, bagel shops shape treats into the team’s emblem, and a doughnut shop sells hundreds of red‑white‑blue pastries on game days. Bars rename items after the team’s goalie, and season‑ticket renewals have reached a near‑100 % record. The barber, who has cut hair for past Canadiens legends, notes the crowd’s passion is more commercialized and media‑driven than before, driven by a young roster that could finally end the 30‑year championship drought.

The phenomenon reflects how deeply the Canadiens are woven into Montreal’s cultural fabric, turning the playoff run into a citywide celebration of sport and identity.