The Montreal Canadiens are delivering an impressive performance this season, currently holding first place in the Atlantic Division with a 10-4-2 record heading into Thursday's game against the Dallas Stars. What makes this achievement particularly remarkable is that the Canadiens enter this matchup as the youngest team in the entire NHL with an average age of just 25.8 years.
Youth Movement Shows Promise
This youthful roster stands in stark contrast to other young teams struggling in the league. The Buffalo Sabres, the second-youngest team at 26.48, sit in last place in the Atlantic Division with a 5-7-4 record, while the Chicago Blackhawks (26.49) have managed an 8-5-4 record after years of playoff absences. The Canadiens' success comes after making the playoffs last season for the first time in four years, signaling that their rebuilding process is yielding tangible results.
Growing Pains in a Demanding Market
Despite their strong start, the reality of being a young team in a passionate hockey market became evident during Tuesday night's 5-1 loss to the Los Angeles Kings. Veteran forward Brendan Gallagher, now in his 14th season with the Canadiens, understands the challenges that come with playing in Montreal. "In a perfect world, you'd love to play great all 82 games," Gallagher said after practice Wednesday. "It's pretty unrealistic for that to happen. But what is in your control is how you bounce back."
The 33-year-old Gallagher, the longest-serving player on the team, was still seeking his first goal of the season heading into Thursday's game, a stark contrast to last season when he had seven goals after 16 games en route to finishing with 21.
Goaltending Challenges and Rising Expectations
The spotlight has shone particularly brightly on goaltender Samuel Montembeault, who has struggled with a 4-4-1 record, 3.52 goals-against average, and .861 save percentage. The criticism became so intense after Tuesday's loss that Montembeault had to turn off his social media accounts due to the vitriol directed at him.
Meanwhile, backup Jakub Dobes has emerged as a reliable alternative, posting a 6-0-1 record with a 2.25 GAA and .920 save percentage, earning him the start against the Stars. Gallagher defended his teammate, noting: "Being a goaltender, especially, you can't hide. Those guys have a certain mental toughness. Monty's no different. He comes to the rink every day, puts in the work."
Dobes himself expressed confidence in Montembeault's ability to rebound: "He'll be fine. He is a great goalie. He had a great season, a lot of games last year. Not every month you could be perfect or you can be good. But we all trust Monty."
Head coach Martin St. Louis emphasized that he focuses on managing the process rather than success itself. "I don't think I manage success. I think I'm really honest with the players and whether we win or lose how we played," St. Louis said. "I manage the process and it's going to help us get success."
With the team ranking fifth in the NHL in offence before facing the Stars, averaging 3.63 goals per game, the early-season success has only raised expectations from a fanbase that showed patience during the first three seasons of the rebuilding process. Now, the young Canadiens must learn to deal with success while navigating the inevitable growing pains of being the NHL's youngest squad.
