The Montreal Canadiens are currently leading the Atlantic Division with a record of 10-4-2 as they prepare to face the Dallas Stars at the Bell Centre. This success is notable considering the Canadiens are the youngest team in the NHL, with an average player age of 25.8. The Buffalo Sabres follow as the second-youngest team at 26.48, while the Chicago Blackhawks are close behind at 26.49. While the Sabres sit at the bottom of the Atlantic Division with a 5-7-4 record and are likely to miss the playoffs for the 15th consecutive season, the Blackhawks have an 8-5-4 record after struggling to make the playoffs in recent years. The Canadiens, who returned to the playoffs last season for the first time in four years, are showing promise for the future. However, they are still a young team facing high expectations from fans who have been patient during a lengthy rebuilding process. Despite their strong start, the Canadiens are experiencing some growing pains, as evidenced by a recent 5-1 loss to the Los Angeles Kings. Brendan Gallagher, the longest-serving player on the team, acknowledged the challenges of maintaining consistent performance. "In a perfect world, you’d love to play great all 82 games," Gallagher said. "It’s pretty unrealistic for that to happen. But what is in your control is how you bounce back and how you regulate and you get your game back to where it has been all year." Goaltender Samuel Montembeault has faced difficulties this season, holding a record of 4-4-1 with a 3.52 goals-against average and an .861 save percentage. Following the loss to the Kings, he turned off his social media due to negative comments directed at him. Gallagher, who has yet to score this season, is also feeling the pressure. He has seven assists but is still searching for his first goal. "Obviously, you’d love to score," Gallagher said. "But I think there’s times where you have to understand that you’re doing the right things, you’re creating chances." Despite Montembeault's struggles, the Canadiens rank fifth in the NHL for offense, averaging 3.63 goals per game. Jakub Dobes, who has a 6-0-1 record with a 2.25 goals-against average and a .920 save percentage, is set to start against the Stars. Gallagher praised Montembeault's work ethic, stating, "He comes to the rink every day, puts in the work. He does what he needs to do and we have a ton of confidence in him every time he’s in there." Dobes expressed confidence in Montembeault, saying, "He’ll be fine. He is a great goalie. Not every month you could be perfect or you can be good. But we all trust Monty. He will be winning a lot of games for us." The Canadiens' early success has raised expectations among fans and increased pressure on the players and head coach Martin St. Louis. "I really feel like I manage the process that we’re doing," St. Louis said. "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. And I feel so far this year we’ve put ourselves in the situation to go get success." St. Louis emphasized the importance of focusing on the process rather than the outcome. "Nothing guaranteed," he added. "That’s what I manage. I don’t manage success. I manage the process and it’s going to help us get success." As the Canadiens navigate their season, they are learning to handle the pressures of success while remaining focused on their development as a young team.