Samuel Montembeault News

Montembeault will start for the third straight game and for the sixth time in the last eight for the Canadiens on Wednesday. Montembeault was heroic in a losing effort on Saturday, nearly willing his team to victory over the high-octane Edmonton Oilers, saving 39 of 41 shots (.951 SV%) in a 2-1 loss. He has a 2-2-0 record in his last four, allowing three or fewer goals in each contest.

Montembeault will be back between the pipes on Thursday as the Canadiens host the Sharks after Cayden Primeau got the nod on Wednesday in Philadelphia. Montembeault was excellent in his last start, surrendering just three goals on 48 shots as the Canadiens edged the Rangers in a 4-3 shootout victory on Saturday. The performance raised his SV% to .906 on the season to go along with his 9-5-3 record. He's got a great chance of staying in the win column on Thursday with the Habs being -165 favourites over the Sharks.

Montembeault has only started one of the last four games for the Canadiens but will return to the crease for the second consecutive game on Tuesday when they visit the Dallas Stars. Montemneault has unquestionably been the most reliable netminder between the pipes for the Canadiens but has struggled lately, allowing four goals in each of his last two games (0-1-1), posting a subpar .818 SV%. The Canadiens are significant +244 road underdogs against a Stars team that has outscored their opposition 13-5 in their last two games (2-0-0).

Montembeault will start for the third time in the last four games for the Canadiens on Thursday when they face off against the Minnesota Wild. Over his last nine appearances, Montembeault has recorded a save percentage of .900 or better in each contest, posting a combined .921 SV% and 5-2-1 record. The Canadiens, looking for their first three-game winning streak of the season, will be hard-pressed for a victory against a Minnesota team that defeated them 5-2 on October 17th when Montembeault allowed five goals on 35 shots (.857 SV%).

Montembeault played well in his last game, saving 27 of 30 shots (.900 SV%), but ultimately came up short in a 4-3, 12-round shootout loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Wednesday. Montembeault will return to the crease on Saturday against the New York Islanders for his second consecutive start, the second time he has started consecutive games in December, as the Canadiens appear to be favouring the 27-year-old netminder.

Montreal's goaltending trio will continue to shuffle as Samuel Montembeault takes the crease for the first time in three games Wednesday. The 27-year-old has been Montreal's best netminder of their three with his 6-4-1 record, .912 SV% and 2.78 GAA. He faces the Pittsburgh Penguins, who are on the second half of a back-to-back after a win over Arizona Tuesday and are ranked 23rd in the NHL in goals per game (2.93).

For the first time this season Montreal will go back to the same goalie it did the previous game as Samuel Montembeault takes the crease Thursday vs. Los Angeles. The 27-year-old has been the Canadiens' best goaltender by a long stretch due to his 6-3-1 record, 2.66 GAA and .913 SV%. He takes on the red hot Los Angeles Kings, who have won seven of their last eight games and are doing so while being second in the NHL in goals per game (3.86).

Montembeault has unquestionably been the strong netminder for the Canadiens this season and will get his first opportunity to tend the twine since signing a three-year, $9.45 million contract extension on Friday. In 10 games this season (5-3-1), Montembeault owns half of the Canadiens' 10 victories and is sporting an impressive 2.73 GAA and .910 SV%. Montembeault has been even more impressive lately, posting a 3-1-0 record and .929 SV% in his last five outings. The Canadiens are +134 home underdogs against a Seattle Kraken team that has lost four straight (0-3-1), scoring only seven goals in the process (1.75 GF / GP).

After rumblings of a contract extension being in the works for several weeks, the two parties finally agreed on a three-year, $9.45 million contract. Montembeault has been a bright spot for the Canadiens this season, consistently putting up strong performances throughout the season thus far. Remarkably, seven of Montembeault's nine starts this season are quality starts (.778 QS%). He has a 2.73 GAA and .910 SV% along with a 5-3-1 record, totals considerably more impressive considering the Canadiens' 25th-ranked league defence (3.48 GA / GP).

Montembeault has been more than serviceable when called upon this season for a Canadiens team that ranks 30th in the league in terms of shot suppression (34.5 SA / GP). In his last four games (2-1-0), Montembeault has only allowed eight total goals, saving 105 of 133 shots (.929 SV%). Facing the Canadiens on Wednesday are the Columbus Blue Jackets, who are playing their best hockey of the season, winning three of their last four (3-1-0) and outscoring their opposition 16-9. The Canadiens have lost five of their last seven (2-5-0) and, as such, are +112 road underdogs against the suddenly hot Blue Jackets.

Montembeault will play for the first time since November 14th when he allowed two goals on 29 shots (.931 SV%) in a 2-1 loss to the Calgary Flames. Montembeault has consistently put together strong performances this season, recording quality starts in five of seven contests. Over his past three appearances (1-1-0), Montembeault has saved 75 of 80 shots (.938 SV%) and looks poised for another strong outing on Wednesday as the Canadiens take on an Anaheim Ducks team that has scored two or fewer goals in three straight games (0-3-0).

Montembault has been a consistent bright spot on an up-and-down season for the Canadiens and will play his seventh game on Tuesday against the Calgary Flames. Montembault has put together a stellar .911 SV% in his last five appearances, allowing only 13 goals in his last five appearances (2-1-1). The Canadiens are +148 home underdogs but are playing a Flames team that has lost two straight (0-1-1) and ranks sixth-worst among goal production in the league (2.64 GF / GP).