”It’s only preseason.”
That is indisputable, but consider this:
In 2022-23, the Canadiens were 0-7 in preseason, being outscored 16-28. They would win only 15 of their first 39 games and be out of the playoff race by the New Year.
In 2021- 22, the Canadiens were 2-4 in the preseason and outscored 16-25. They would win eight of their first 48 games and were out of the playoff race by November.
In 2017-18, the club was 2-6 in preseason and would win six of their first 23 games. They started the season 1-7-1 and were never in the playoff hunt.
So far this preseason, the club is 2-0 and outscored the opposition 8-0.
While it’s true that you can only glean so much from the preseason and two games is hardly a large sample size, starting slowly out of the gate has been a sign in recent years that the club is in trouble. It is difficult to build confidence and momentum if you can’t win early on, even if the games don’t count in the standings. The last time the Canadiens had a solid preseason (2016-17), they lost just one of seven exhibition games in regulation and outscored opponents 25-18. They would start the regular season 13-1-1.
Considering that they have one of the youngest clubs in the league, getting off to a quick start in the first ten games will be necessary. As luck would have it, Montreal has a favorable schedule to start the season, playing seven of the first ten at home and facing only five 2023-24 playoff teams. The Canadiens play six of the next eight on the road, but several are winnable games. They face non-playoff teams in 11 of their first 18 games.
Momentum and confidence are so crucial for young clubs. Look at New Jersey in 2022-23. The Devils finished seventh in the Metropolitan Division the previous season and were longshot to make the playoffs. They started the season 16-3 and never looked back on their way to a 112-point season, the third-best point improvement (49 points) in NHL history.
It all started with a great preseason. The Devils went 5-2 and carried that momentum into the regular season.
The Bell Centre is going to be electric in October. We already hear how revved up the crowd gets when promising “newcomers” Patrik Laine and Lane Hutson carry the puck. If those two start strongly and the club wins most of its home games in the first ten matches, the players will build off that energy and thrive.
We have seen how Montreal’s passionate fans can carry the team to unexpected heights. The Michel Therrien-coached club of 2016-17 had no business starting the season with one regulation loss in the first 13 games.
I don’t expect a New Jersey-type rise in the standings but there are some similarities in that the Devils had young players picked high in the draft who were coming into their own, and they carried the team to new heights. This Canadiens club will feature three forwards who were top-three selections, with the oldest being Laine at 26. It is not inconceivable to see a significant point jump from Juraj Slafkovsky and Kirby Dach this season, and if they blossom like they are fully capable of doing, considering how highly touted they were in their draft years, the Canadiens could surprise a lot of pundits and cruise into the playoffs riding a wave of monumental and enthusiasm.
Fans are incredibly excited about the Canadiens entering this season, more so than they have been in decades. If the team starts strong, the city will be buzzing with energy. The fact that the team started the preseason with convincing back-to-back shutouts will only increase the fans’ enthusiasm, which is a positive development.
