Stu's Slapshots: Canadiens coach shows confidence in Samuel Montembeault

I’d have began Jakub Dobes in objective for a 3rd straight sport Saturday when the Canadiens face the Ottawa Senators on the Bell Centre

(7 p.m., Citytv, SNE, SN1, TVA Sports activities).

However I perceive why head coach Martin St. Louis determined to go along with Samuel Montembeault as an alternative.

Dobes has an ideal 6-0 document this season, together with a 1.97 goals-against common and a .930 save share after beginning three of the final 4 video games. Montembeault is 2-3-0 with a 3.82 GAA and a .842 save share after dropping his final two video games whereas giving up 10 objectives and posting a .804 save share.

The actual fact Dobes gave up three objectives on 11 photographs within the third interval of Tuesday night time’s 4-3 extra time win over the Kraken in Seattle made the choice to begin Montembeault simpler for St. Louis. The pinnacle coach has stated because the begin of coaching camp the Canadiens wanted to have a way of urgency to begin the season and so they have actually proven that with an 8-3-0 document after going 4-6-1 of their first 11 video games final season.

With that sense of urgency in thoughts, I’d have caught with the successful goalie towards the division-rival Senators, who’re three factors behind the Canadiens with a 6-5-1 document, and waited till Tuesday to play Montembeault towards the Philadelphia Flyers on the Bell Centre

(7 p.m., TSN2, RDS).

“Sam didn’t neglect play within the web,” St. Louis informed reporters after observe Thursday, including: “He’s a superb goalie and he’ll play Saturday.”

I figured St. Louis would wait till Friday to announce his beginning goalie, giving second-guessers — like me — one much less day to speak about his resolution to go along with Montembeault. However saying it on Thursday was an enormous vote of confidence in Montembeault, who actually didn’t neglect play in web.

Samuel Montembeault, who will begin in objective for #Habs Saturday night time at Bell Centre vs. Senators at observe this morning in Brossard. pic.twitter.com/dT7ctPuA4G

— Stu Cowan (@StuCowan1) October 31, 2025

Montembeault has been constant during the last three seasons with save percentages of .901, .903 and .902. I count on by the top of this season he will probably be again at that degree — if not higher — largely due to Dobes pushing him.

Final season, when St. Louis had no confidence in Cayden Primeau because the backup goalie, Montembeault performed in 21 of 23 video games earlier than Dobes was known as up from the AHL’s Laval Rocket. Montembeault performed 62 video games final season, the third-most amongst NHL goalies behind the Tampa Bay Lightning’s Andrei Vasilevskiy and the Winnipeg Jets’ Connor Hellebuyck, who each performed 63 video games.

There will certainly be a variety of stress on Montembeault on Saturday night time and Bell Centre followers have a historical past of being onerous on struggling goalies — whether or not their names are Patrick Roy, Carey Value or Samuel Montembeault.

That’s one more reason I’d have began Dobes within the Hockey Night time in Canada highlight.

Dobes tremendous with resolution

Dobes is assured Montembeault will play effectively Saturday night time.

“I really feel like he at all times performs good at residence,” Dobes stated after observe Friday. “He loves taking part in at residence. He’ll be good on Saturday. He’s been practising onerous. We talked a bit bit. In my thoughts, he’ll be actually good for us Saturday and we’ll take a win.”

Final season, Montembeault had a 22-11-5 document on the Bell Centre, together with a 2.59 GAA and a .910 save share. This season, Montembeault is 1-1 at residence with a 3.97 GAA and a .818 save share.

Stu Cowan would have gone with Jakub Dobes for the Habs upcoming sport vs Sens…@StuCowan1: “There’s going to be a variety of stress on him (Montembeault) Saturday night time”#thesickpodcast @TonyMarinaro pic.twitter.com/mZ4kjJX8ME

— The Sick Podcast with Tony Marinaro (@thesickpodcasts) October 31, 2025

Dobes stated he wasn’t shocked St. Louis determined to begin Montembeault on Saturday and added personally will probably be good for him to have a break.

“I haven’t been practising a lot and it’s at all times good when you’re taking part in an excessive amount of to get the observe habits again as a result of I really feel like in practices I may very well be higher proper now,” Dobes stated. “In order that’s the primary factor to not be solely good at video games, but in addition good at practices. I really feel personally for me I attempt to use it as a reset button and type of go from successful and taking part in each different night time to return again to actuality and begin from zero and type of carry the starvation again.”

Birthday boy

Montembeault turned 29 on Thursday and his teammates introduced him snacks as presents.

Montembeault’s nickname is “Snacks” as a result of he’s recognized to get hungry and eat snacks between intervals when he’s not taking part in.

“Apparently, he likes dinosaur issues … something dinosaur,” Dobes stated when requested what Montembeault’s favorite snack is. “Like dinosaur hen nuggets, dinosaur sweet. That’s what I purchased him yesterday. I don’t know if he took it residence however, hopefully, he took it residence.”

Simply one other instance of how goalies will be unusual.

Dobes added he has an amazing relationship with Montembeault.

“We don’t actually discuss hockey an excessive amount of,” Dobes stated. “We’re good buddies. If we go on the ice we attempt to compete as a lot as doable, however we wish to want solely the perfect for one another. He’s actually supportive for me all through the intervals and if he sees one thing he’ll at all times discuss to me and provides me recommendation. I personally strive to not discuss to him as a result of he’s extra skilled and he simply is aware of the league higher. So I simply attempt to be there for him if he wants something.

“We’re simply good buddies,” Dobes added. “We discuss and now we have enjoyable, however we don’t discuss hockey an excessive amount of. We discuss silly stuff more often than not.”

The Buckeye State

I had a pleasant dialog over the telephone Wednesday with longtime Ohio State College hockey coach Steve Rohlik, who had Dobes for 2 seasons after the Canadiens chosen him within the fifth spherical (136th total) of the 2020 NHL Draft.

Dobes had a 42-28-5 document throughout his two seasons at Ohio State. Throughout his freshman season he had a 2.26 GAA and a .934 save share and in his sophomore season he had a 2.31 GAA and a .918 save share.

I requested Rohlik if he has been shocked by Dobes’s success with the Canadiens.

“I feel we’d all be mendacity if we weren’t shocked how rapidly it’s come,” Rohlik stated. “However, clearly, we knew there was one thing particular there. With goaltending you simply by no means know, proper? And the one factor he’s carried out is he’s simply taken benefit of his alternatives. I feel he performed fairly constant down there within the American league (with the Laval Rocket) and final yr getting thrust in there (with the Canadiens) swiftly he type of took benefit of it. Typically you get that confidence and get a bit little bit of that swagger and it’s type of carried by way of to this yr.”

Ohio State College is significantly better recognized for soccer than hockey with 9 nationwide soccer championships, together with final yr. Rohlik famous the soccer staff’s success helps the hockey program.

“I feel we’re within the place of all our sports activities and the way effectively we’re doing due to soccer,” Rohlik stated. “We’re one of many largest athletic departments within the nation, some of the prestigious athletic departments within the nation, and when soccer does effectively each program will get spoiled due to the sources due to it. So that you see our ladies’s (hockey) program, our program and a variety of different sports activities right here which can be doing very, very effectively. The services and every little thing, all the event course of, all of the issues behind the scenes — the sports activities psychologist, the full-time power coach, the full-time nutritionist. Every little thing that now we have — even a variety of the NHL guys that come over from the Blue Jackets are like: ‘Wow! You guys bought every little thing right here.’

“That’s what we attempt to do,” Rohlik added. “We attempt to deal with these guys like NHLers. We attempt to give them every little thing doable to develop and attempt to let these guys attain their goals of the following degree moreover getting the golden ticket … that piece of paper (diploma) of their again pocket. I feel that’s type of Ohio State in a nutshell.”

Tomorrow. We get the 👟 LOUD 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/6M7m2azx9P

— Ohio State Soccer (@OhioStateFB) October 31, 2025

Dobes stated it was a simple resolution for him to take the NCAA route as an alternative of taking part in major-junior hockey. He spent two seasons with the Omaha Lancers within the USHL earlier than going to Ohio State.

“You’ll be able to see what number of guys go from the CHL to varsity proper now,” Dobes stated about modifications to NCAA eligibility guidelines that now enable major-junior gamers to make the bounce to U.S. faculties. “I feel it’s a no brainer. You by no means know when you’re going to be a hockey participant. If I’d have gotten injured in faculty you bought to have one thing. So it’s only a no-brainer within the sense that you’ve a backup plan and I really feel like the extent (of hockey) is basically good.”

Dobes studied enterprise administration and worldwide enterprise at Ohio State and stated he’d like to finish his diploma after his hockey profession ends.

I requested Dobes if he attended any Ohio State soccer video games whereas he was there at Ohio Stadium, which has a capability of greater than 100,000. He stated he did.

“It’s actually thrilling to begin,” he stated. “However we at all times left after the second quarter as a result of we have been up like 40-0 and I’m good. Actually thrilling when the day begins and after the second quarter it type of dies off.”

Allen shines with Devils

It’s good to see former Canadiens goalie Jake Allen get off to an amazing begin this season with the New Jersey Devils.

Allen suffered his first lack of the season Thursday night time when the Sharks beat the Devils 5-2 in San Jose, dropping his document to 5-1-0 with a 2.39 GAA and a .906 save share.

The Canadiens dealt Allen to the Devils on the NHL commerce deadline two seasons in the past in alternate for a third-round choose at this yr’s NHL Draft that was used to pick goalie Arseny Radkov of Belarus. Radkov is taking part in this season with the QMJHL’s Blainville-Broisbriand Armada, the place he has a 6-3-2 document with a 3.33 GAA and a .897 save share.

Allen left a long-lasting impression with Montembeault throughout his 4 seasons with the Canadiens.

“He was superior,” Montembeault stated. “Among the finest teammates I ever performed with. There was no competitors between the 2 of us. He was solely attempting to assist us. He was such teammate. Off the ice he was displaying me what to do, have routine and deal with my physique. He was an actual professional, so simply watching him helped me so much.”

The Canadiens will play the Devils on Thursday in New Jersey

(7 p.m., TSN2, RDS).

Recollections of Howie Meeker

I used to be lucky as a child to have the ability to twice attend the Howie Meeker Hockey College at Stanstead Faculty through the summer season.

Meeker preached if skates have been correctly fitted solely the highest three eyelets wanted to be tied. He added leaving the opposite eyelets unfastened allowed higher circulation within the toes.

Meeker, the Corridor of Fame participant who died 5 years in the past at 97, would go on the ice with solely the highest three laces on his skates carried out as much as show his level.

So comfortable my late mom did not throw issues out and I nonetheless have these recollections from attending the Howie Meeker Hockey College at Stanstead Faculty within the mid- Seventies. That is me in prime row, third from proper, in staff picture. pic.twitter.com/JXvnFbBSAL

— Stu Cowan (@StuCowan1) October 31, 2025

I used to be pondering of Meeker when the Prime Monday Night time Hockey crew was on the town on Oct. 20 to cowl the Canadiens-Sabres sport on the Bell Centre, which the Canadiens received 4-2. Blake Holden of Prime went on the ice with Hutson, whose skates have been untied whereas he talked about his unimaginable edgework and successful the Calder Trophy final season because the NHL’s prime rookie.

“They simply needed me to hop out earlier than (staff) conferences so I didn’t actually wish to lace all of them the best way up,” Hutson stated Friday after I requested him concerning the phase. “I didn’t know in the event that they have been displaying my skates, so I simply went with it.”

Skating 101 with Blake Bolden and Lane Hutson. Who’s taking notes?! 📝🙋‍♂️ pic.twitter.com/fM3KwgaRJp

— Sports activities on Prime Canada (@SportsOnPrimeCA) October 21, 2025

Hutson’s mother and father personal the Barrington Ice Area in Lake Barrington, Sick. His father, Rob, operates the rink, coaches youth hockey and runs the Hutson Professional Growth program. Hutson stated his father began making him skate at occasions together with his laces undone when he was about 7 or 8 years previous.

Why?

“Strengthening my ankles and having the ability to hit my edges a bit more durable so I can type of lean and really feel them and be taught what inside and outside edges are,” Hutson stated.

Howie Meeker would have cherished that.

Catch me when you can

One of the crucial spectacular elements of Hutson’s sport is how he not often will get hit onerous regardless of having a goal on his again at 5-foot-9 and 162 kilos.

“I feel he acknowledges when he may not have fairly a preventing probability and he’s actually good at type of letting that man go after which take the puck again off him afterwards,” teammate Mike Matheson stated. “In order that’s a reasonably efficient means for him to do it.”

Hutson stated it’s necessary for him to additionally pay attention to who’s on the ice towards him.

“I feel a few of it’s understanding the intentions of who you’re on the ice with,” he stated. “Some guys don’t even know there’s a puck there typically and also you type of allow them to assume that they’ll get you after which the puck’s simply sitting there for you. A part of that after which a part of simply understanding that it’s a bodily sport and typically you’re going to get put into the glass and being able to get put into the glass, I assume.”

Trending up

Nick Suzuki:

The captain posted 30-59-89 totals final season to turned the primary Canadien since Alex Kovalev to common a point-per-game or higher. Kovalev had 35-49-84 totals in 2007-08. Suzuki is off to a good higher begin this season with 2-14-16 totals in 11 video games. Final season, he had 4-9-13 totals after 11 video games. Via Friday’s video games, Suzuki ranked twelfth in NHL scoring. The final time the Canadiens had a participant end within the prime 10 in NHL scoring was 1985-86, when Mats Naslund completed eighth with 43-67-110 totals. Naslund celebrated his 66th birthday on Friday.

Cole Caufield:

He was tied for the NHL lead with 9 objectives by way of Friday’s video games, placing him on tempo for a 67-goal season. It’s unlikely he’ll hit that complete, however Caufield may turn into the Canadiens’ first 50-goal scorer since Stéphane Richer scored 51 in 1989-90. Caufield scored a career-high 37 objectives final season.

Noah Dobson:

He has 1-6-7 totals in his first 11 video games with the Canadiens after being acquired from the New York Islanders this summer season. That places him on tempo for a 50-point season after having 10-29-39 totals final season with the Islanders. Dobson had a career-high 70 factors (10 objectives, 60 assists) with the Islanders in 2023-24.

Trending down

Samuel Montembeault:

As famous above, Montembeault is struggling to seek out his kind from final season when he had a 31-24-7 document with a 2.80 GAA and a .902 save share.

Arber Xhekaj:

He has just one help in 10 video games and is minus-2 whereas averaging a team-low 10:37 of ice time because the sixth defenceman. “It’s not a simple scenario,” assistant coach Stéphane Robidas stated Friday about Xhekaj’s scenario. “Your leash is shorter than others. It’s to remain targeted and hold issues so simple as doable to achieve the arrogance of the teaching workers. It’s to remain affected person. Typically because the sixth defenceman issues can change. A number of issues can occur throughout a season and typically you may go from six, to 5 to 4. Issues can change fast.”

Brendan Gallagher:

He’s nonetheless searching for his first objective this season, however does have six assists and is a part of what St. Louis calls a “momentum line” with Jake Evans and Josh Anderson. Gallagher had 4 objectives after 11 video games final yr and completed the season with 21 objectives to rank third on the staff behind Caufield (37) and Suzuki (30).

scowan@postmedia.com

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