Montembeault Set to Defend Net Against Golden Knights

In a crucial matchup slated for Saturday evening, goaltender Samuel Montembeault is poised to defend the net for the Montreal Canadiens against the formidable Vegas Golden Knights at the Bell Centre. This follows Montembeault’s impressive performance on Monday, where he played a pivotal role in securing a 3-0 shutout victory over the Edmonton Oilers, marking a positive turn for the Canadiens’ defensive lineup.

Preparations for the game have been rigorous, with the Canadiens utilizing their time off to engage in three intense and focused practice sessions in Brossard. Head coach Martin St-Louis has expressed confidence in the team’s readiness, emphasizing the importance of a powerful start against a well-prepared Golden Knights team. «Our start is really important tonight,» St-Louis stated, noting that the opposition is coming in after playing three games in four nights and is likely already in «game mode.»

The matchup coincides with the annual «Hockey Fights Cancer Night,» presented by CIBC, a significant event held at the Bell Centre aimed at raising cancer awareness and funds.

The Canadiens are currently in a challenging position in the Eastern Conference standings, trailing five points behind the eighth-place Boston Bruins, who have recently implemented a coaching change. Despite being at the bottom of the conference, Montreal remains a single point ahead of two teams from the Western Conference for the league’s last place. However, with 63 games remaining in the season, prospects for improvement remain open, particularly with star forward Patrik Laine nearing a return from injury.

In recent games, Montreal has demonstrated competitive form, securing victories over potential playoff contenders such as the Buffalo Sabres and Columbus Blue Jackets, and delivering a compelling win against the Edmonton Oilers. The game against the Golden Knights is set to test their recent adjustments and individual player development.

The Vegas Golden Knights have consistently been a top contender in the Western Conference, currently leading the Pacific Division by a narrow margin over the Calgary Flames. Despite a commendable start to the season, statistics reveal weaknesses that could be exploited, with Vegas positioned 26th in scoring-chances-for percentage and having a sub-50% expected-goal share. Additionally, their penalty kill performance has suffered, providing the Canadiens a potential edge in power-play situations.

Key players such as Mark Stone, Jack Eichel, and Tomas Hertl lead the Golden Knights’ formidable offensive, with Hertl excelling in power-play situations, contributing significantly to the team’s above-30% power-play success rate.

Interestingly, the Golden Knights’ performance has varied significantly between home and away games. While they boast an impressive home record, their road performances have been less consistent, maintaining a 4-4-2 record over their past ten away matches. This contrast provides the Canadiens an opportunity to capitalize on potential vulnerabilities during the home clash.

With the Golden Knights winning their last six encounters against Montreal, the Canadiens hope that strategic adjustments and a motivated squad will reverse the trend and secure a critical win on home ice.