The Canadiens Are Learning Something Important About Winning

Something interesting is happening in Montreal, and it might be bigger than a 10-1-2 run. The Canadiens started the season slowly, but they've quickly turned things around. What's particularly encouraging is how they've done it.

They've won without Nick Suzuki (out for a few games) and Ivan Demidov (still out), getting key contributions from unexpected places, and finding ways to score even when the game doesn't go exactly as planned. That's worth paying attention to.

Last season, Montreal was a young team trying to establish itself. There were some encouraging signs, but there were also nights when you could see the growing pains. This season feels a little different. The Canadiens are beginning to look like a team that expects to win rather than one that's simply happy to compete.

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The Canadiens Are Getting Contributions from Up and Down the Lineup.

Consider what's happened with Suzuki and Demidov. Losing two important offensive players would cause problems for most teams. Montreal hasn't exactly missed a beat. Other players have picked up some of the responsibility, and the team has kept finding ways to win. Then there's Jacob Fowler.

His emergence has given the Canadiens something they badly needed: confidence in their goaltending. Nobody should expect a young goalie to solve every problem or play at an extraordinary level all season. Some difficult nights are still ahead. But Fowler has given Montreal another reason to believe it can compete.

The Young Canadiens Are Getting More Confident with Greater Success.

Here's what I find most interesting, though. When a young team starts winning without its best players, something can change in the room. Players begin to understand that they don't have to wait for the captain or the leading scorer to rescue them. They have some responsibility for making things happen themselves.

That kind of confidence can be hard to develop, but once it takes hold, it can become a real advantage. Of course, 13 games don't make a season, and Montreal still has plenty to prove. But perhaps the biggest development isn't the winning streak itself. It's the growing evidence that the Canadiens are becoming a team with more answers than they had last year.

And when Demidov returns, they'll be joining a group that has learned something about itself. That's a pretty encouraging thought for Montreal fans.

Related: Why the Canadiens Need to Be Patient with Gleb Pugachyov