Canadiens' New Goalie Coach Marco Marciano Aims to Elevate Netminder Performance
As the Montreal Canadiens navigate the final stretch of the NHL season, one of the most pressing questions remains the performance of their goaltenders. With the team holding a strong position in the Atlantic Division despite defensive struggles, the arrival of new goalie coach Marco Marciano has sparked optimism among players and fans alike.
Inconsistent Goaltending Amidst Team Success
The Canadiens currently boast a 32-17-8 record, placing them second in the Atlantic Division. This success comes despite inconsistent performances from netminders Samuel Montembeault and Jakub Dobes. Montembeault has recorded a 10-8-2 record with a 3.34 goals-against average and .875 save percentage, while Dobes stands at 18-5-4 with a 2.96 GAA and .892 save percentage.
Defensively, the team ranks 23rd in the NHL, allowing an average of 3.21 goals per game. Their playoff positioning is largely attributed to their offensive prowess, ranking third in goals scored with 3.46 per game. As the season enters its crucial final 25 games, beginning with matchups against the New York Islanders and Washington Capitals, goaltending improvements could prove decisive.
Marciano's History and Positive Approach
The Canadiens made a significant coaching change on January 28, firing Eric Raymond and promoting Marco Marciano from his role as goalie coach of the AHL's Laval Rocket. Marciano brings established relationships with both Canadiens goaltenders, having coached Montembeault in junior hockey with the QMJHL's Blainville-Boisbriand Armada and worked extensively with Dobes in Laval.
Players have quickly noticed Marciano's distinctive coaching style. "I feel like with Marco, even if I potentially could have a bad game, I know that the next day I will get better," Dobes expressed. "I just feel like he has my back and, no matter what happens, I feel confident with him."
Montembeault echoed this sentiment, noting Marciano's infectious enthusiasm: "I think he drinks like five or 10 coffees a day, so he's obviously got a lot of energy. He's just so passionate about what he does. He wants us to always be at our best and he always brings that energy."
Technical Adjustments and Coaching Philosophy
The transition between coaches involves more than just energy levels. Montembeault highlighted distinct technical differences in their approaches: "They're both really good goalie coaches. But the game plan, the way they want us to play the game is a bit different. Eric wanted us to play a little bigger compared to Marco wants us to be in our stance a little more, have our legs loaded at all times and always be ready to push."
For Dobes, Marciano's attention to detail has been particularly valuable. The 6-foot-4, 215-pound goaltender explained: "We're working on that. He's just a really smart guy and I feel like I can get a lot of information from him. He notices things on the ice. I'm just very happy to be back with him."
Proven Track Record and Future Potential
Marciano's success with goaltenders in Laval provides reason for optimism. Last season, Dobes posted a 9-3-1 record with a 2.44 GAA and .910 save percentage with the Rocket before his NHL call-up. Other goaltenders flourished under Marciano's guidance, including Cayden Primeau who recorded a 21-2-2 record with a 1.96 GAA and .927 save percentage in the AHL.
This season, Jacob Fowler has maintained an 18-7-1 record with a 2.23 GAA and .915 save percentage in Laval, while Kaapo Kahkonen stands at 15-4-4 with a 2.55 GAA and .904 save percentage.
The timing of Marciano's promotion coincides with encouraging performances from both Canadiens goaltenders. Montembeault delivered his best game of the season just before the Olympic break, stopping 36 of 37 shots in a 5-1 victory over Winnipeg. Dobes has been particularly strong recently, boasting an 8-0-2 record in his last 10 appearances with an .899 save percentage.
Building Toward Playoff Success
As the Canadiens prepare for their postseason push, the relationship between Marciano and his goaltenders continues to develop. Dobes emphasized their collaborative approach: "Even the things we do now, we were doing it a year-and-a-half ago in Laval. Now it's just kind of a reminder. We try to work on the basics we were working on in Laval."
Looking ahead, Dobes expressed confidence in their progress: "I feel like we're already moving forward, but we have a lot more work to do and I'm really excited. I feel like I could be a really good goalie with him and we'll see. We're going day by day and we'll see what happens tomorrow."
With Marciano's proven developmental skills, positive energy, and established relationships with Montreal's netminders, the Canadiens hope their goaltending will become a strength rather than a question mark as they pursue playoff success.
