Montreal Canadiens Goaltending Challenges
The Montreal Canadiens find themselves grappling with ongoing goaltending challenges, prompting the organization to call up Jacob Fowler while sending Samuel Montembeault to the AHL for a conditioning assignment. Initially, this decision seemed to spark a positive change, but recent performances have cast doubt on its effectiveness.
Recent Performance and Concerns
Following a painful defeat to the Boston Bruins, head coach Martin St-Louis was questioned about Montembeault’s mental state. He dismissed concerns about fragility, asserting,
No, no, I don’t think so. Listen, the last goal, the puck’s direction changes…No, I don’t think so.
Despite St-Louis’s reassurance, the statistics reveal a troubling situation for Montembeault. The goalie faced two critical divisional games in succession, yet his save percentage fell below .815 in both contests, a concerning trend that cannot be ignored. Currently, Montembeault’s season record stands at 9 wins, 8 losses, and 2 overtime losses, accompanied by a 3.46 goals-against average (GAA) and .869 save percentage.
Comparative Performance
In contrast, teammate Jakub Dobes has been performing better overall, albeit with his own less-than-stellar statistics (3.01 GAA and .887 SV). Despite these numbers, Dobes boasts an impressive record of 15 wins, 5 losses, and 3 overtime losses, highlighting a disparity in the support received from the team’s offense. It appears that when Dobes is in net, the Canadiens generate more scoring opportunities.
Management’s Perspective
In a recent mid-season press briefing, general manager Kent Hughes emphasized his stance against labeling players, stating that the goaltender in the best form would earn more playtime. However, the current deployment suggests otherwise: Dobes has posted a 5-0-1 record over his last six appearances, whereas Montembeault has struggled, managing only 1 win in his last four outings.
Upcoming Challenges
This week, the Canadiens have three challenging matches against the Vegas Golden Knights, Colorado Avalanche, and Buffalo Sabres. As they look to secure victory, the team will need a reliable goaltender capable of making critical saves—an expectation that, at this moment, seems uncertain for Montembeault.
