The Canadiens pushed deep into the playoffs last season, advancing to the Eastern Conference Final before ultimately falling to the eventual Stanley Cup winners. Despite the setback, the team appears to be refining its approach, recognizing that success in high-pressure postseason matchups demands more than just strong regular-season form. Analysts suggest the experience gained from that run could prove crucial as they prepare for another challenging playoff campaign. The focus now shifts to whether those lessons translate into sustained performance when it matters most.

The Canadiens raised the bar by reaching the Eastern Conference Final last season before losing to the eventual Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes. They’re learning, though, that it’s not always ...