Samuel Montembeault: The New Quebecois Guardian of Montreal’s Net

The Montreal Canadiens have named Samuel Montembeault as their starting goaltender for the opening night of the regular season, marking a significant moment as he becomes the first Quebecois since José Theodore to take the role. After a challenging previous season, Montembeault aims to maintain consistency in his performances throughout the coming games.

Speaking after a practice session at the CN Sports Complex in Brossard, Montembeault expressed his readiness for the demands of his position, where performances are frequently scrutinized by fans. “I think I showed last season that I can be consistent,” said Montembeault. “Every time I get the chance to be in net, I want to give the team a chance to win. It’s a lot of pressure, but I’m really happy about it.”

The Canadiens will kick off their season with a game on Wednesday against the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Bell Centre. This marks the beginning of a demanding stretch with three games within four nights. However, the team will be without defenceman Jordan Harris, who is recovering from an upper-body injury and will be evaluated daily.

The Canadiens, under head coach Martin St. Louis, have seen significant changes in their goalkeeping lineup. With Jake Allen having been traded to New Jersey last March, the goaltending responsibilities have shifted, giving Montembeault a clearer opportunity to secure his position as the number one choice. Despite this, St. Louis remains cautious about assigning a permanent starting role. “Nothing’s carved in stone,” St. Louis noted, emphasizing that playing time would be based on performances.

Last season, Montembeault featured in 41 games, ending with a record of 16-15-9, a 3.14 goals-against average, and a .903 save percentage. The goaltender, originally from Bécancour, acknowledged the pressure but welcomed the challenge. “We’re starting back-to-back against two of the best teams in the league,” Montembeault stated. “Like all the guys, we’re excited to start.”

Cayden Primeau, another contender, is also aiming to prove his worth in the coming season. Primeau, 25, enters the final season of his three-year contract and has been working on improving his game after a somewhat unsteady development period. In the previous season, Primeau recorded an 8-9-4 record with a 2.99 goals-against average and .910 save percentage.

With a long season ahead, the Canadiens aim to manage the workload between Montembeault and Primeau to suit their evolving performances and the team’s needs. “If Sam plays 50 or 55 games, it’s probably because he’s done a really good job,” St. Louis remarked, expressing optimism about Montembeault’s potential progression.