The Montreal Canadiens initially believed that promoting Jacob Fowler and sending Samuel Montembeau to the AHL for conditioning might resolve their goaltending issues, and at times, it seemed promising. However, signs of trouble are re-emerging.
Following a tight loss to the Boston Bruins, coach Martin St. Louis was asked if he thought Montembeau was again in a vulnerable spot. He responded, “No, I don’t think so. The last goal, the puck’s direction changed… No, I don’t believe vulnerability is the issue.” Despite this reassurance, the reality remains that the team chose to deploy Montembeau in two critical divisional games, and his save percentage dipped below .815 in both. His overall stats this season—9 wins, 8 losses, 2 overtime losses, a 3.46 GAA, and an .869 save percentage—are underwhelming for an NHL goalie.
Meanwhile, Jakub Dobeš’s numbers aren’t much better (3.01 GAA, .887 save percentage), but he has the advantage of a winning record (15-5-3) and recent success, going 5-0-1 over his last six outings. It seems the Canadiens are providing Dobeš with more offensive support, which could be a contributing factor. During a mid-season media session, GM Kent Hughes explained he prefers to let the best-performing goaltender earn the most starts—yet, that’s not currently the case. Dobeš has been hot lately, while Montembeau has struggled, especially after starting four of the last five games.
With upcoming matchups against the Golden Knights, Avalanche, and Sabres, the Canadiens need someone to stand out and make crucial saves. At this point, Montembeau doesn’t seem to be the answer.
Fan Take: This ongoing goaltending dilemma highlights how vital a consistent and reliable netminder is to a team’s success. For hockey fans, it underscores the importance of depth at the position and could foreshadow changes that influence the Canadiens’ playoff prospects and the league’s unpredictable chase for the post-season.
