Montreal firefighters with NHL playoff fever got a scolding from the City of Montreal for painting Habs logos and slogans on their station windows and walls.

At least two stations in the Ville-Marie and East-end boroughs spray-painted door windows and walls with the Canadiens' signature red, white and blue hues in anticipation of the Habs' first playoff game Thursday night.

This Montreal fire station was ordered to remove any Habs paint.
(CBC)

But their fervour got a cold reception at city hall where officials ordered the department to wipe off what it called "graffiti."

Montreal Mayor Gérald Tremblay said he would insist on keeping public property clean.

"I have Habs fever myself but I have a way of expressing it, and you don't see my house … I don't put graffiti or paint in the windows of my house," he said at city hall Thursday.

"I think in a sense they can't do that, that's not the image that we want to have."

The fire department was set to respect the order on Thursday when a union representative called the stations in question, asking firefighters to leave the paintings intact, said Capt. Alain St-Pierre.

The department hasn't yet decided what to do, he said.

Cops embrace playoff fever

Montreal police got into the playoff spirit Thursday, festooning patrol cars assigned to the Bell Centre with Habs flags.

Officers on duty during game night said they're in a hockey mood, but will be vigilant about any rowdy fans.

"What we want to show the people is the police officers, like everyone else, are in a festive mood," said spokesman Daniel Lacoursière.

"But people also have to understand that they have to behave after and during the matches, everywhere on the island."

Montrealers in a red, white and blue mood

Across the Island of Montreal Habs fans primed themselves for the big game against the Boston Bruins Thursday night.

Cars flew Canadiens flags, bakery workers wore jerseys and sporting stores reported a spike in sales of Habs paraphernalia.

A few cars painted hubcap to hubcap in the tricolors were spotted driving downtown.

By mid-afternoon, fans had already started to descend on the Bell Centre hours in anticipation of the game.

Sports bars and restaurants with big screen televisions were booked solid.

Thursday's game is the first playoff meeting this year between the Habs and the Bruins.

The Canadiens last won the Stanley Cup in 1993.