32 people arrested in mayhem in Montreal following Canadiens’ Game 7 victory over Penguins

Hockey mayhem in Montreal brings 32 arrests

MONTREAL — Police say 32 people have been arrested in the mayhem following the Montreal Canadiens’ Game 7 victory over Pittsburgh.

Some stores were looted and police fired tear gas at hundreds of bottle-tossing fans after Wednesday night’s game in which the Canadiens ousted the defending champions to reach the Eastern Conference final.

Now some merchants worry about what awaits in the next series against Boston or Philadelphia. But they also acknowledge that the Canadiens’ great playoff run has electrified the city and boosted business.

Montreal has a history of hockey violence. Cars were burned and downtown stores were trashed in the 2008 playoffs. And there was chaos after Montreal’s Stanley Cup victories in 1986 and 1993.