Photo credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
The Montreal Canadiens are on the plane to Tampa Bay, and Samuel Montembeault is generating a lot of buzz.
After a three-day break, the NHL resumes today, but the Canadiens don’t play again until tomorrow against the Lightning.
This recall comes at a very specific time. Montembeault was in Laval on a conditioning stint, meaning no waivers were required, but with a clear 14-day limit.
We were getting close to the end of that window, which made a return inevitable.
“The Montreal Canadiens officially recall Sam Montembeault from his conditioning loan, per AHL transactions.”
– Marco D’Amico
When you add the team’s departure for Florida, it’s easy to see why things are heating up.
Samuel Montembeault and the three-goalie scenario: it’s over for him with the Laval Rocket
It opens the door to a temporary solution where Montreal carries three goaltenders, at least for the start of the trip. The catch is that keeping three goalies sounds good on paper, but it can disrupt rhythm.
There’s always one guy watching from the sidelines, and when you have two young goalies who need to play, it becomes a fragile balance.
At the same time, on the road, a flu bug, a minor injury, or a game that takes a strange turn, and you’re glad to have an insurance policy. The team is scheduled to practice in Florida around 2 p.m., and that’s often when we get the answers that matter.
Who skates, who stays with the group, and who is actually available. It will also give a clearer idea of Martin St-Louis’ plan for tomorrow’s game.
In the short term, there are no back-to-back games before next weekend. That leaves some flexibility to manage the crease without burning anyone out.
But if the three-goalie situation lasts too long, the question will come back quickly: who plays, and who waits.
Previously on Montreal Hockey Fanatics