Samuel Montembeau hasn’t played in the NHL since December 9, when he relieved Jakub Dobes in a 6-1 defeat to the Tampa Bay Lightning. His last NHL start was even earlier, on December 2, a 5-2 loss to the Ottawa Senators. Since then, Montembeau has been on a conditioning stint in the AHL with the Laval Rocket, where he played two games against a weakened team missing key players, losing both matches and spending significant time working with Rocket goaltending coach Marco Marciano—a connection dating back to their time together in the QMJHL with the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada. Montembeau’s performance on Tuesday night will reveal if this time spent honing his skills was effective.
For many, Tuesday night might be just another day, but for Montembeau, it carries high stakes. His showing will likely influence how the Montreal Canadiens manage their goaltending moving forward this season. Adding an interesting twist, Montembeau faces the Florida Panthers, the team that drafted him in 2015 and later placed him on waivers in 2021. Yet, more than any storyline, Montembeau is driven to prove he still deserves a spot guarding the Canadiens’ net.
Tuesday marks the first of three games this season between the Canadiens and Panthers, who are separated by just two points in the standings. The Canadiens currently hold third place in the Atlantic Division, while the Panthers occupy the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. Should Florida secure two points in this game, they will leapfrog Montreal in the standings due to having more regulation wins, despite being level on points.
Interestingly, the last ten matchups between these teams have been evenly split, each winning five games apiece. The Canadiens wrapped up their last five meetings with wins, while the Panthers claimed the first five—including a 4-3 shootout victory back on February 29, 2024. Will the two-time defending champions continue to assert dominance over Montreal?
Both teams have battled injuries this season. The Panthers are without stars Matthew Tkachuk and captain Aleksander Barkov, who are out for the season but might return during the playoffs if Florida advances. Additionally, Dmitry Kulikov, Jonah Gajovic, Tomas Nosek, and Cole Schwindt remain on injured reserve.
Florida has been strong recently, posting a 7-3-0 record in their last ten games, including a 5-3 win over the Washington Capitals with Sergei Bobrovsky in goal. That win marked Bobrovsky’s 446th career victory, moving him past Terry Sawchuk for eighth on the all-time wins list; he needs nine more to pass Curtis Joseph for seventh. The Panthers have yet to announce their starting goalie for Tuesday’s game—a critical matchup that impacts playoff positioning. Bobrovsky has a solid track record against visitors, sporting a 16-9-1 record, a 2.47 goals-against average, and a .918 save percentage. Meanwhile, backup Daniil Tarasov has only faced the Canadiens twice, holding a 0-1 record, a 2.65 GAA, and a .898 save percentage.
Conversely, Montembeault’s stats against his former team are 4-4-1, with a 3.75 GAA and .892 save percentage. As for Jakub Dobes, who hasn’t faced them before, the Panthers were his first NHL team, and just over a year ago, Dobes helped the Canadiens’ resurgence with a 34-save performance against Florida.
The Canadiens made a notable change in Monday’s practice, with Alexandre Texier skating on the top line alongside Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield. This shift suggests coach Martin St. Louis wants a closer look at Texier in a linchpin role. Consequently, Zachary Bolduc moves to the third line alongside Phillip Danault and Josh Anderson. Brendan Gallagher leads the Canadiens in points against Florida with 24 in 40 games, Suzuki boasts 20 points in 19 games, and Anderson has 14 points in 24 matches. Caufield, with 12 points in just 14 games against the Panthers, is emerging as a potent offensive threat.
On the Panthers’ side, Brad Marchand stands out as the highest-scoring player against the Canadiens with 48 points in 58 games and is currently on an eight-game point streak with 13 points. Sam Reinhart and Sam Bennett follow with 23 points in 34 games and 21 points in 28 games, respectively.
The game is scheduled for 7 p.m. and will be broadcast on SCRIPPS, TSN2, and RDS. Cody Beach and Kendrick Nicholson will host, with Brad Kovacik and Tyson Baker on the commentary. This contest represents the Canadiens’ final game of 2025, preceding a New Year’s Eve rest day and a New Year’s Day clash against the Carolina Hurricanes.
Fan Take: This game is pivotal not just for Montembeau’s career revival but also for the Canadiens’ playoff aspirations in a tight division race. Hockey fans should watch closely, as Montembeau’s performance could reshape the team’s goaltending strategy and influence the intense rivalry between these two competitive squads.
