Montreal Canadiens’ starting goaltender Sam Montembeault experienced a challenging night, visibly upset after being taken out of the game.
He began the season strongly, with a career-high 48-save shutout in the Canadiens’ opener against the Toronto Maple Leafs. However, his performance has declined significantly since then, having been pulled in consecutive starts, including tonight’s game where he allowed five goals on just ten shots against the Seattle Kraken. As he left the ice for the locker room, he showed signs of frustration by slamming his stick against the tunnel wall.
Head coach Martin St. Louis seemed ready to give Montembeault another chance following a rocky previous game against the New York Rangers, where he conceded four goals on eight shots, finishing with a .500 save percentage. St. Louis opted to stick with him, a choice he later regretted.
The tipping point came in the second period when Kraken defenseman Brandon Montour scored his second goal of the night to extend the lead to 5-1. The shot, which came from the point, was statistically unlikely to go in, with only a 2.4% chance. Montour later scored again, bringing the score to 6-1.
By the end of the second period, despite only 16 shots from the Kraken, the score stood at 6-1, translating to an over 33% shooting percentage for the team. While any team would thrive with such efficiency, the Canadiens are struggling, especially in light of Patrik Laine’s absence. Fan frustration is mounting, as expectations for improvement this season are not being met.
If they lose tonight, they risk matching last season’s point total at best, with the possibility of falling even further. Without quick improvements, the team may face significant changes and rising tensions as they aim to regain their status as contenders in the NHL.
