Montreal Canadiens goaltender Samuel Montembeault's attempt to regain his form hit another obstacle on Thursday night. In his first start for the American Hockey League's Laval Rocket, the netminder struggled, allowing four goals in a 5-2 road loss to the Cleveland Monsters.
A Tough Night in Cleveland
The game, played at Rocket Arena, marked Montembeault's initial appearance since being sent down on a conditioning assignment by the NHL club. Facing 24 shots from the Monsters, the Quebec native managed to stop only 20, posting a save percentage of .800 for the night. The loss extended a challenging period for the 29-year-old from Bécancour, whose performance mirrored recent difficulties at the highest level.
Context of a Difficult Season
This AHL outing followed a similarly tough stretch with the Canadiens. Montembeault's last appearance for Montreal came on December 9th, when he entered in relief of Jakub Dobes against the Tampa Bay Lightning. In that game, he surrendered three goals on just 13 shots, recording a save percentage of .769.
His overall statistics with the Habs this season reflect his struggles. Through 15 NHL games, Montembeault has secured five wins but carries a goals-against average of 3.65 and a save percentage of .857. The conditioning assignment with Laval is designed to provide him with more playing time to work through these issues and rebuild confidence.
Looking Ahead for Montembeault
The Rocket's loss to Cleveland, fueled by the goals Montembeault allowed, underscores the ongoing challenge. The Monsters showcased the scoring plays on their official social media feed, highlighting the offensive pressure the goaltender faced. For the Canadiens' organization, the focus will be on using this AHL stint as a constructive reset. The coming games for Laval will be critical in determining whether Montembeault can find the consistency needed to reclaim his role effectively in Montreal. His progress will be closely monitored by the coaching staff as they evaluate their goaltending options moving forward.
