Martin St. Louis is the primary to confess he doesn’t know lots about goaltending.
However he does perceive very properly how an athlete’s thoughts works.
That’s why the Canadiens head coach made it clear after follow Thursday morning in Brossard that Samuel Montembeault can be his beginning goaltender Saturday evening on the Bell Centre towards the division-rival Ottawa Senators. It didn’t matter Montembeault had misplaced his final two video games, had a 2-3-0 file, a 3.82 goals-against common and a .842 save proportion, whereas Jakub Dobes was 6-0-0 with a 1.97 GAA and a .930 save proportion.
Montembeault wanted a confidence enhance and his coach gave it to him.
Montembeault ended his dropping streak towards Ottawa, making 14 saves in a 4-3 additional time win because the Canadiens outshot the Senators 27-17 and improved their file to 9-3-0, good for first place within the Atlantic Division. Montembeault’s save proportion for the sport was solely .824 because the Canadiens blew a 2-0 first-period lead and have been trailing 3-2 after Tim Stützle scored at 12:27 of the third interval, beating Montembeault with a backhand transfer.
However Montembeault stored them within the recreation and Ivan Demidov tied it up with 2:23 left within the third interval on a lovely setup from Lane Hutson after which Alex Newhook scored the winner at 1:40 of OT. Cole Caufield and Juraj Slafkovsky scored within the first interval.
FRISSONS GARANTISWICKED#GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/h8AG3RE3RB
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) November 2, 2025
“I used to be very direct … Monty you’re taking part in,” St. Louis stated about letting Montembeault know two days upfront he was getting the beginning. “So possibly that may clear his thoughts and he can do no matter he needs with that info. I don’t know what he’s going to do with it.
“I really feel like I’ve persistence, empathy and I really feel like I may help my gamers whether or not they made a mistake or going by a tough time,” the coach added.
St. Louis believed that letting Montembeault know early he was beginning would possibly restrict his stress and uncertainty and assist him keep calm in his preparations.
“Marty was nice,” Montembeault stated. “Instantly once we acquired to Brossard on Thursday they advised me earlier than follow. In order that they gave me these two days to organize and prepare for that recreation.”
Was he feeling added strain Saturday evening?
“Somewhat bit,” Montembeault stated. “Somewhat bit nervous how issues have been going. Not simple, too, we don’t quit many photographs, so simply acquired to remain centered. However the guys have been taking part in so properly, so I simply wished to be on the market and assist them.”
After the successful purpose, half the Canadiens went to have a good time with Newhook and the opposite half went to Montembeault.
This was a “Win One For Monty” evening.
“Yeah, in fact,” defenceman Jayden Struble stated. “He’s such goalie. He’s been so good for us (prior to now). We wished that so huge. When that purpose went in, I really like Newhy, however I used to be beelining it to Monty. Simply so joyful for him and he’s going to proceed to be nice for us.”
That’s what St. Louis can be hoping now that his gamble on Montembeault paid off with a win. The coach stated he has confidence in Montembeault, however that doesn’t matter if the goalie doesn’t trust in himself.
This win was positively a confidence enhance.
It was additionally an evening when the youngest workforce within the NHL confirmed its pack mentality with Struble dropping the gloves with Nick Cousins after which dropping him with a proper hand 1:15 into the third interval.
It was payback for Cousins delivering a vicious two-handed slash to Demidov’s proper hand late in a pre-season recreation in Quebec Metropolis that the Canadiens gained 5-0. The NHL fined Cousins $2,148.44 for the slash, the utmost allowed within the Collective Bargaining Settlement.
Struble forces Cousins to reply the bell for his soiled slash within the preseason.It did not take lengthy for Struble to out energy him. #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/ktm1JWplL7
— Marc Dumont (@MarcPDumont) November 2, 2025
Going into the sport, Struble advised his teammates he was going to combat Cousins, however Cousins didn’t wish to combat him. Cousins as a substitute requested Brendan Gallagher and Alexandre Provider to drop the gloves with him to settle the rating.
“They have been like: ‘We’re not going with you, you’re going with him,” Struble stated. “Actually, I don’t wish to give him any props, however he did drop them with me. He sort of needed to. I’m glad it occurred. When you will have a man like that taking a shot at your star younger participant, that was a foul play. None of us favored it. Clearly, we have been fascinated with it. That is the primary time we’ve performed him (since) in order that’s on our thoughts. You may’t simply go round and attempt to damage our greatest gamers.
“Once you land one flush, it’s one of many higher emotions,” Struble added in regards to the huge punch he hit Cousins with. “Then he went down.”
Cousins additionally went on to the locker room after the combat and didn’t return.
“That’s a pleasant contact,” Struble stated with a smile.
Adieu esprits d’Halloween, bonjour esprit d’équipe 👻Crew spirit is one of the best sort of spirit#GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/FRmoJgupYd
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) November 2, 2025
The Canadiens have gained three in a row and 5 of their final six video games. They’ve additionally gained 5 video games in additional time.
“It’s loopy how we simply hold doing this and our star gamers step up for us each time,” Struble stated. “Once we’re down it doesn’t really feel like we’re down. It’s like: All proper, somebody’s going to attain and ship it to OT after which somebody’s going to win it. It’s a loopy factor to be part of proper now.
“It’s very enjoyable and I really like the best way that we’re taking part in.”
scowan@postmedia.com
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