MONTREAL -- The Bell Centre in downtown Montreal will be open Tuesday night to allow Canadiens fans to watch the team's crucial Game 6 against the Tampa Bay Lightning, which will be played in Florida.
Tickets cost $10, with part of the proceeds going to the Montreal Canadiens Children's Foundation.
Team spokesman Donald Beauchamp says the club expects a crowd of about 20,000.
Montreal police spokesman Jean-Pierre Brabant says the Canadiens informed authorities of the event and that officers will be on duty around the arena as the Canadiens try to stave off elimination after winning the last two games to make it 3-2 for the Lightning.
"They are in contact with our services to let us know there is going to an event, with how many people, so from there we're able to get ready," Brabant said.
"There will be a police presence around the Bell Centre -- it's not different from any other event."
A Canadiens victory would guarantee another full house at the Bell Centre on Thursday night -- a Game 7 that would actually be played in the building.
Authorities will be hoping to keep a lid on the type of hockey-related violence that has erupted in Montreal in previous years.
In 2010, looters smashed windows and clashed with police on Ste-Catherine Street after the Canadiens defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins in the final game of the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. At least 25 people were arrested.
Two years earlier, cars were burned and downtown stores were trashed after the Habs beat the Boston Bruins to advance to the second round of the 2007-08 playoffs.
