Samuel Montembeault played a unique role at Canadiens practice this morning, acting as a screen for Patrik Laine to test Jacob Fowler.
Let’s be honest, screened shots have caused major headaches for the Canadiens since October. New goaltending coach Marco Marciano had to find a solution quickly to turn things around.
This morning, we witnessed a rather unusual scene at the practice facility. The staff decided to innovate to fix the dynamic in front of the net.
The Quebec-born goalie planted himself right in the slot with full gear. He essentially acted as an opposing player to block the goaltender’s vision.
It was young Jacob Fowler in net facing this challenge. He had to track the puck through heavy traffic. Meanwhile, Patrik Laine was firing heavy shots from the blue line. It goes without saying, the Finnish forward has an elite shot that puts serious pressure on opponents.
One thing is certain, it looks like a very effective “drill”, however, that’s not what’s grabbing attention.
Seeing a goalie of this caliber used as a screen in practice shows strong team chemistry but it also says a lot about his place in the hierarchy.
Here’s what Maxime Truman had to say after seeing the scene:
“Montembeault isn’t even being used as the second goalie in games; it’s over for him in Montreal.
I don’t see how he could be back next year.”
Several observers are now seriously questioning his future in Montreal.
In recent weeks, there’s clearly been a shift in how the staff is integrating him into practice sessions.
An unexpected scene at Canadiens practice raises new questions about Samuel Montembeault’s future
On another part of the ice, Juraj Slafkovsky once again turned heads. His physical development has been remarkable since the start of the season.
The Slovak power forward’s puck protection has reached another level recently. He’s becoming nearly impossible to move when controlling the puck in the offensive zone.
Let’s be honest, offensive success often comes down to these technical details. The Canadiens need this level of execution to compete with the rest of the division.
It remains to be seen whether these creative drills will pay off in the next game. Slaf needs to keep building on this momentum.
Martin St-Louis knows very well that every point matters right now in the standings. There’s virtually no margin for error left for Montreal.
Hard work in practice will certainly pay off for these young players. The atmosphere in the locker room remains very positive despite the intensity of the schedule.
One thing is certain, the coaching staff isn’t lacking creativity to keep the group motivated. It will be interesting to see how things unfold this weekend.
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Sad scene at Canadiens practice involving Samuel Montembeault sparks concern about his future in Montreal
Are you surprised by Samuel Montembeault’s new role at practice?