What happened: Montreal opened the 2026-27 season 3-3-1 through its first seven games. The record trails internal expectations, but the on-ice process has remained strong.

Why it matters: Points banked in October shape the Atlantic race, so a .500 start leaves little margin to waste good shifts. If the process holds, Montreal has 75 games for the record to catch up to the play.

What to watch: The next stretch will show whether continued strong play turns into wins.