The Canadiens have had a home sellout streak since January '04, but as "large blocks of seats at the Bell Centre appear to sit empty and resellers offer tickets at less than face value, some people are wondering whether even die-hard Montreal fans are beginning to turn away from the franchise," according to Morgan Lowrie of the CP. The team currently is 9-12-3 and sits 14th in the Eastern Conference. Canadiens Senior VP/Communications Donald Beauchamp confirmed that the team "reduced the price of some tickets" for Wednesday's game against the Senators. He said that the change "affected only a few tickets, which were put at regular price instead of the 'optimum' price usually applied to popular matchups." Beauchamp said that the price drop was a "'one-off' and blamed the sluggish sales on the Canadiens' packed home schedule," which includes 13 games at Bell Centre from Nov. 7-Dec. 9. Lowrie noted the Canadiens are off to the "worst start in their history" and on occasion have been "booed by their own frustrated fans." TV cameras have "panned over large blocks of empty seats" during broadcasts. Meanwhile, online ticket resale sites claim seats for future games appear to be "abundant and often offered at less than face value." Canadiens blogger Sean Lloyd said that the team's trade prior to last season of P.K. Subban to the Predators, combined with last season's "first-round playoff exit and this year's slow start, is causing fans to stay away" (CP, 11/24).
