16 points: the Canadiens top the Eastern standings

The Devils and Penguins have 16 points. However, both Metropolitan teams have more regular wins (and the Devils have played one fewer game) than the Canadiens.

In the tie-breaker, that makes a difference. The Habs don’t actually win enough on a regular basis… but it’s better to win in overtime (with Cole Caufield) than to lose games.

Still, it’s interesting to see that a certain changing of the guard is taking place in the NHL. After all, the good clubs of recent years aren’t necessarily the good clubs at the start of the season.

There’s time for that to change, of course… but it’s an interesting observation.

The question now is whether the Habs can keep up the pace for several months, when “normalcy” will set in along the way.

Martin St-Louis often repeats that it’s one thing to perform in October, but once the early-season excitement wears off, we see which players continue to perform.

Without Kaiden Guhle for a while, and without a clear-cut second center, will the Habs be able to stay at the top of the Eastern standings?

We’ll find out in the coming months.

overtime

– Interesting.

– In the category: the Habs are good in 2025-2026.

– The season will end at the Rogers Centre.

– Read more.