Montreal fans roar as Habs beat Tampa Bay Lightning in tense Game 4 of Stanley Cup final

Montreal hockey fans celebrated Monday with cries and cheers of uninhibited joy after Josh Anderson scored the game-winning goal in overtime to lift the Habs to a 3-2 victory in Game 4 against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

"We needed a victory at home to pump up the entire Habs nation and now we're going to Tampa and we're going to come back," said Habs fan Balraj Jutla after the win as he and hundredsof otherscelebrated in the streets outside the Bell Centre.

Fans had also packed the area around the stadium to watchthe game on large screens.

Game 5 of the best-of-seven match up is set for Wednesday in Tampa. Game 6, if necessary, would be back in Montreal on Friday.

There's a steep hillahead,Jutla said, but added: "What's a steep hill if you've climbed it before? It's just a hill. That's it."

Jutla, a born-and-raised Montrealer, said he is a Habs fan for life and watching his team move into the final and now take down the Bolts in Game 4 has been "amazing."

Crowd felt larger, says fan

After watching the game from inside the Bell Centre, Mike Monturesaid he enjoyed the excitement,buthe doesn't expect the Habs will take the Cup.

The Habsand Lightning played in front of a crowd of about 3,500. Thestadium ordinarily seats more than 21,000, but seating was restricted due to COVID-19public health restrictions.

Regardless,Monture said the crowd felt larger.

It was loud and "very exciting," said Monture while fans cheered and chanted in the background, spilling out of the Bell Centre and into downtown Montreal.

WATCH | The excitement of Game 4 in Montreal:

Habs remain in Stanley Cup contention after Game 4 win

3 years ago

Duration 3:19

The Montreal Canadiens hang on to their Stanley Cup hopes after a Game 4 win, bringing their series against the Tampa Bay Lightning to 3-1. Meanwhile, police have brought in extra resources to contain the sea of Habs fans in the streets.

Sunil Peetush said he felteuphoric watching the game and has hope that his beloved team will bring home the Stanley Cup.

"If there is a team that could do it, they've shown they have the resilience to do it," said Peetush. "They have thisunderdog mentality, and maybe this is the right way to go for this team."

Sabrina Delvasto said a lot of people thought the Canadiens were going to lose, and she was excited to see Monday night's victory. She said it is still possible that the Habs take the Stanley Cup.

"I think they have a really good team this year," said Delvasto, who wasn't yet born to see the Habs win the Cup in 1993 the last time the team made it to the playoffs final.

Before the game got underway, Montreal police warned that it hadbackup from the provincial police force, Sret du Qubec, and would not toleratecriminal acts.

Police were out in force Monday evening, working to prevent arepeat of the unrest June 24 after the Habs beat the Las Vegas Golden Knights.

After that victory, Montreal police deployed tear gasin the city's downtown to disperse crowds. Police said people were acting aggressively toward officers, and there were acts of vandalism. Police arrested 15 people that night, and issued 60 tickets for violations such as lighting fireworks.

On Monday morning,Montreal police spokesperson Const. Vronique Comtoisdeclined to say exactly how many officers would be on duty, but made it clear that "the police officers will be ready to intervene."

Among Habs fans who was out watching the game Monday night was Montreal MayorValrie Plante, who headed to the Olympic Park to view the match on large screens.

She invited residents to send the local team positive energy by cheering them onin front of the Olympic Stadium or at the Quartier des Spectacles, the city's cultural district, which has a large urban square surrounded by entertainment venues and art galleries.

After it was over, Plante tweeted: "Wow! What an end to the game."