Two Canadiens fans linger outside the Bell Centre after the team was knocked out of the playoffs. (Peter McCabe/Canadian Press)

Montreal Canadiens fans appeared to take their team's loss in stride Saturday night, quietly streaming through the city streets following the game.

Police had been on high alert in case there was a repeat of the violence that followed the team's victory during the first round of the NHL playoffs.

The Philadelphia Flyers ended the Canadiens' quest for the Stanley Cup with a 6-4 victory Saturday. The Habs were the final Canadian hockey team in the playoffs, meaning hockey's top prize will head south of the border.

There was a highly visible police presence in downtown Montreal. At one point, officers stood about three metres apart for a roughly 20-block stretch of St-Catherine Street, where vandals smashed store windows during last month's violence.

Groups of police on bicycles patrolled the streets and a police helicopter hovered overhead as fans chanted "Go Habs go" and waved flags.

Some fans jokingly heckled a man in a Flyers jersey outside the arena.

Fans praised the team for making it into the playoffs and said they're looking forward to next season.

"This team that everyone said wouldn't go anywhere made it to the second round of the playoffs and I think we should be really proud of them," said one woman.

"I'm feeling pretty bad, pretty disappointed. But next year … we're gonna get our cup!" said another fan.

The April 21 riots erupted about two hours after the team's series victory over the Boston Bruins. Vandals torched 16 police cruisers, vehicles on the street and smashed shop windows.

Police blamed the violence on organized bands of vandals who targeted authorities.