Stikki Peaches creates Habs playoff mural

MONTREAL - Downtown is a little more bleu-blanc-rouge these days.

With two rounds down at the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs, a second Habs mural now colors the cityscape, this time courtesy of
Stikki Peaches
.
The 10-foot piece created in the anonymous artist's signature collage style features a battle-ready Youppi! atop a destruction derby vehicle, among other visual nods.
"It's a spinoff of our famous mascot, without making it too obvious," explained the Montreal native, whose work can be found in cities across North America and Europe. "I wanted to give it a Stikki-fied feeling. The piece is encouraging the boys to grind it out, pedal to the metal, like modern day gladiators on the ice."

Tucked away in the details are various references to the team and its current postseason run, including a "Let's go Jake" message wishing forward Jake Evans a speedy recovery, fans chanting Olé, and Maurice Richard's legendary No. 9.
Also represented on the mascot's left sneaker is a 215, in memory of the 215 Indigenous children who lost their lives in Kamloops B.C. Earlier this month, the Canadiens hosted a shoe drive benefiting the First Nations Education Council.
"Throughout all my work over the years, I always add some little not-so-hidden messages and go with what is current. I always acknowledge there are other things besides sports or art or whatever," added the muralist. "There are definitely bigger things going on in the world, and sometimes you just have to acknowledge them."
Check out the latest Habs artwork to hit the streets in person
at the intersection of Saint-Antoine W. and de la Montagne
, across from the Bell Centre.
For Waxhead's Round 1 mural featuring a take on the team's iconic torch,
click here
.