The Montreal Canadiens are experiencing a dramatic reversal in their netminding situation that could have significant consequences for the upcoming Winter Olympics in Italy. While the team surprisingly leads the Atlantic Division with a 9-3-2 record, their planned goaltending hierarchy has been completely upended.
Unexpected Goaltending Reversal
Veteran Samuel Montembeault, who served as Montreal's workhorse last season with 62 appearances ranking third in the NHL, has struggled dramatically in the early going. His statistical performance places him near the bottom of league goaltenders with a 3.67 goals-against average ranking 50th among 53 qualified netminders and an .855 save percentage sitting at 52nd position.
Meanwhile, rookie Jakub Dobes has emerged as the unexpected star, winning his first six starts and being named the NHL's third star for October. Despite a recent 4-3 overtime loss to New Jersey, Dobes maintains impressive numbers with a 2.25 GAA and .920 save percentage, ranking fourth in both categories league-wide.
Olympic Roster Implications
The Canadiens' goaltending situation creates potential ripple effects for Olympic team selections happening in three months. Montembeault was initially part of Team Canada's roster for the 4 Nations Face-off and attended the summer training camp alongside Adin Hill and Jordan Binnington.
However, his current struggles make his Olympic position uncertain. Binnington, who backstopped Canada to gold in the 4 Nations event, appears guaranteed a spot, while Washington's Logan Thompson leads the NHL with a 1.45 GAA and .938 save percentage, making him difficult to ignore.
Conversely, Dobes has entered consideration for goaltender-rich Czechia, though his international experience is limited to the 2019 World Junior A Challenge after leaving his home country at age 16. He competes with established NHL goaltenders including Philadelphia's Dan Vladar, Utah's Karel Vejmelka, and the New York Islanders' David Rittich.
Team Performance Defying Expectations
The Canadiens' division-leading performance comes despite statistical anomalies. Montreal ranks as the third-highest scoring team in the NHL at 3.64 goals per game while sitting 30th in shots per game with only 25. This offensive efficiency has helped mask Montembeault's struggles, as evidenced by his 3-3-1 record being supported by strong team scoring.
Coach Martin St. Louis continues to show faith in Montembeault, starting him recently against Philadelphia where he allowed three goals on six shots in the first eight minutes before settling down. The team ultimately lost 5-4 in a shootout when Montembeault failed to stop Trevor Zegras's five-hole attempt.
The original plan to reduce Montembeault's workload to approximately 50 games while developing Dobes has been complicated by the rookie's immediate success and the veteran's struggles. Some fans already anticipate top prospect Jacob Fowler, who's off to a strong start in Laval, could join the Canadiens by season's end.
As the Olympic roster decisions approach, the performance of both Canadiens goaltenders will be closely monitored by their respective national teams, turning Montreal's netminding situation into an international storyline with implications reaching far beyond the NHL season.
