Who will be in net for the Canadian in the next game against the Kings? Martin St-Louis will undoubtedly be asked this question after today’s training session (Wednesday) and it will not make him happy. Every time a journalist asks him about this topic, his expression hardens.
If the rotation that has been in place for three weeks is maintained, Cayden Primeau would automatically be against the team from Los Angeles. Without wanting to take anything away from the young man, the Canadian’s chances of winning would be significantly reduced.
Primeau cannot show any consistency. We saw him last Thursday in his last start against the Florida Panthers. While he was solid in the first two periods of the game, he faded in the third period. Three of the four goals the Panthers scored during that period were on the side of his glove, his weak spot.
As for Jake Allen, he suffered one loss in his last six games (0-5-1), including one against the same Kings in California about ten days ago.
No more nonsense!
You see me coming, don’t you?
It’s time for Samuel Montembeault to become the Canadian’s starting goalie. Why else did you give him a three-year contract extension last Friday? With him as goalkeeper, the Habs have the best chance of winning. He won five of his team’s eleven wins.
Some might say that this is a very small sample and that he still has to prove himself, as I read when his contract extension was announced.
I cringed when I read that.
It’s as if the Canadian was unsure of his move and reluctantly granted those three extra years.
Improved technology
Montembeault isn’t the best goalie in the National League – but that could happen one day, who knows? – but he is the number one goalie in the Montreal organization.
After a difficult first season at the big club, he has made great progress since last year. The goalkeeping coach Éric Raymond obviously gives good advice.
It’s crazy how much his technique has improved. It may not be quite there, but it’s a lot better than it was two years ago. We feel like he is in control of his means.
And whoever says that a confident goalkeeper is confident is saying that it is a confident team, and in the case of the Canadian he is reassured.
The Habs need everything positive to win games, and that will continue to be the case for quite some time. It can be said that goalkeepers have less influence than in a certain era, but they still play a leading role in a team’s success.
Especially in the playoffs.
Do you think the Toronto Maple Leafs and Edmonton Oilers wouldn’t like to bet on better goaltenders?
Montembeault deserves to score regularly.
The Canadian’s management may be stuck in a contractual bind with Allen and in fear of losing Primeau to waivers, but it needs to highlight Montembeault.
It is his greatest strength in front of the net.