The Montreal Canadiens entered yesterday’s game as the favorites. However, by the time the final buzzer went off, the Los Angeles Kings had just beaten the best team in the Atlantic Division by 5-1, and one man was to be blamed for it.
Sam Montembeault missed not just one but three shots to the net in the second period to give the Kings an insurmountable lead, which the Canadiens simply couldn’t overcome. And the fans were simply livid and wanted the goalie to be out of Montreal.
What Did the Canadiens Fans Have to Say About Sam Montembeault’s Mistakes?
The Canadiens were having one of the best runs of the season. So when they faced off against the Kings, most assumed that Montreal would make quick work of their opponents.
They even got a power play opportunity early in the second period that should have swung momentum in their favor. Instead, Montembeault let in a soft goal on the very next shift that opened the floodgates for Los Angeles.
The Joel Edmundson wrist shot from the point in particular drew the ire of Habs Nation. It was a straightforward shot that any NHL goalie must stop, no traffic, no screen, just a clean look that somehow found its way past Montembeault’s glove.
“That was on him; the Edmundson goal was a shot that an NHL goalie MUST STOP. I stopped watching the game at 3-1; I had seen enough. Not good enough,” one frustrated fan wrote on social media. The comparisons to other struggling netminders came fast and furious.
“Did Stuart Skinner start to possess him?” another fan quipped, referencing the Edmonton Oilers goalie who has faced his own share of criticism this season. But perhaps the most damning assessment came from those questioning why Montembeault continues to get starts at all.
“Waiver wire goalie still getting starts…” one commenter observed bluntly, reminding everyone that the 27-year-old wasn’t exactly a prized acquisition but rather a depth piece plucked off waivers back in 2021. The irony of Montembeault’s situation in Montreal wasn’t lost on the fanbase either.
“Only in Montreal does a #3 goalie become a star playing in a McDonald’s commercial,” a fan noted, highlighting how the pressure cooker environment of playing in hockey’s most demanding market can elevate even backup goalies to unlikely celebrity status.
With Team Canada’s 2026 Olympic roster looming in February 2026, some fans couldn’t help but notice the contrast between Montreal’s goaltending woes and the embarrassment of riches other teams enjoy.
“He was thinking that with all the Team Canada guys in the building tonight… “I have some vacation time in February 2026… No Milan for him,” one sarcastic post read.
The loss snapped Montreal’s impressive winning streak and raised serious questions about whether the Canadiens can trust Montembeault in high-stakes situations moving forward.