Canadiens’ on-ice woes translating to empty seats

MONTREAL — Although the Montreal Canadiens haven’t won the Stanley Cup since 1993, the team has always been able to count on its fans showing up for every game.

On paper at least, the team enjoys a sellout streak at home that has lasted since Jan. 8, 2004 — minus one game where a seat was symbolically left empty to honour the late Jean Béliveau.

But as large blocks of seats at the Bell Centre appear to sit empty and resellers offer tickets at less than face value, it could be that even die-hard Montreal fans are beginning to turn away from the franchise.

The Canadiens have reduced the price of some tickets for a game next Wednesday against Ottawa after several tickets remained available, a spokesman with the organization confirmed Friday.

Donald Beauchamp said the change affected only a few tickets, which were set at regular price instead of the “optimum” price usually applied to popular matchups.

“A week to 10 days before that game, in very few categories, we just lowered the price back to regular price instead of keeping it at optimum price,” he told the Canadian Press.

Beauchamp described the price drop as a “one-off” and blamed the sluggish sales on the Canadiens’ packed home schedule, which includes 13 games at the Bell Centre from Nov. 7 through Dec. 9.

But others see a different reason.

The Canadiens’ first 10 games saw them get off to their worst start in their history over such a stretch, and entering today’s action they had the third-worst record in the Eastern Conference, with 19 points from 23 games.

On several occasions, they’ve been booed by their own frustrated fans and TV cameras have panned over large blocks of empty seats.