'You Better Get Dressed': Maple Leafs’ Craig Berube Recalls Pre-Game Brawl Against Canadiens And Players Share Memories in Montreal

Max Pacioretty, Ryan Reaves, and Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube look back on their time playing in the city and their historic buildings.

If there's any arena that brings an incredible atmosphere for every game, it's Montreal's Bell Centre.

It's always loud and entertaining, and, as Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews said on Saturday morning, "It's buzzy."

Toronto and the Montreal Canadiens are preparing for their third of four matchups against each other. Saturday evening will be their final meeting inside the Bell Centre vs. one another this season, and as always, it's sure to pack an entertaining punch, no pun intended.

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Especially when former Canadiens' captain Max Pacioretty returns, wearing blue and white for a second time (third if you count preseason) this year. 

He's been involved in many key moments inside the Bell Centre. He played in Montreal for 10 seasons and was drafted by the club. But throughout his time as a Canadiens player, what is his favorite moment inside his old home building?

"Game 6, Boston," he said without hesitation on Saturday morning.

He's, of course, talking about when Montreal defeated the Boston Bruins 4-0 in their second-round series during the 2014 playoffs. The Canadiens were down 3-2 in their series with Boston before winning two straight and eliminating the Bruins.

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Pacioretty scored the second goal in that game, inside a roaring Bell Centre.

"You weren't expecting a quick answer like that?" Pacioretty said shortly after he recalled Montreal's Game 6 against Boston as his favorite game within his former home building.

It's not just the former Canadiens' captain who has great memories of Montreal, though. Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube looks back to the "late 80s" when he participated in a few playoff series against the Canadiens.

"What a great hockey town, like Toronto. I mean, growing up, that's all I watched was Toronto and Montreal," Berube said on Saturday morning. 

"I got to work with Larry Robinson in St. Louis, who's one of my favorite players growing up for sure. It was awesome to be around a guy like that and listen to him talk about the game and how he thinks the game. Such a great player. Anytime you come to Montreal to play a game, it's special."

Berube was asked further about the pre-game brawl inside the Montreal Forum between the Philadelphia Flyers and Canadiens during their 1987 playoff series.

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6YX5vFUTeQ[/embed]

"I was watching from the bench because (Flyers head coach) Mike Keenan, he wasn't having me play in that game. But I knew some fireworks were going to happen," Berube added. 

"But the best one is: So it's all going on and Mike came up to me from the bench, ⤵️ He was just messing with me. But I was a kid, right? So I was like, 'I better get in there and get my equipment on.'"

Ryan Reaves, who will return to the Maple Leafs' lineup after being a healthy scratch on Thursday against the New Jersey Devils, also has fond memories of playing at the Bell Centre.

It was Nov. 13, 2013, while Reaves was with the St. Louis Blues when he dropped the gloves in Montreal with now-head of NHL Department of Player Safety George Parros.

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UdmjqLy2O_g[/embed]

"I ran someone but I can't remember. And then there was a whistle, face off and there's a dust up in our zone. And Parros came up nice and challenged me," Reaves said. 

"It was a good fight. It was actually right after he came back from this big injury when he fell onto his head. I think it was his first fight back."

Whether it's fights or goal-scoring, Montreal's fans always make it an entertaining Saturday night when these two teams go toe-to-toe. Toronto has won and lost a game against the Canadiens this season.

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