4 nations: Canadiens goalkeepers are (truly) dreadful this season

Over the past few games, Samuel Montembeault seems to have got his season back on track. After a few very difficult starts, the Canadiens’ goalie has been dominant for a while now, to the point wherehe is one of the NHL’s goalies of the week.

It’s a small sample, but in his last three games, we’ve seen last year’s Montembeault again. And that’s good, especially with Cayden Primeau struggling.

Of course, for Montembeault, winning games with the Habs is everything. That said, Monty also dreams of representing Canada at the 4 Nations Confrontation this winter.

And after his difficult start to the season, we were beginning to wonder if his chances were going up in smoke… except…

When you look at the statistics for Canada’s goalkeepers this season, one thing becomes clear: the country’s goalkeepers are truly appalling this season.

Seeing guys like Jordan Binnington, Adin Hill, Stuart Skinner and Tristan Jarry being this bad means that these guys, who were candidates to represent the country, are starting to get out of the running. And in doing so, it opens the door to other porters… including Montembault.

Because if you look at the numbers, you’ll see that despite his season that wasn’t always obvious, he’s one of the country’s elite goalkeepers in 2024-25. Cam Talbot, Logan Thompson and Mackenzie Blackwood have comparable seasons… but none of these guys clearly has a better season than the Habs goalie.

And when you consider that Monty already has experience on the international scene, that plays into his hands in a race that’s looking tight right now.

We know that the rosters are due to be unveiled on December 4, which gives the goalies two weeks to prove they deserve their place on the team. And right now, Montembeault’s big performance, a shutout in front of Kyle Dubas (a Canadiens team executive) yesterday, probably puts him in a good position to be invited.

He’s not having the greatest of seasons… but with such appalling competition, he looks like one of Canada’s best options right now.

Overtime

– Really?

Will their general manager Barry Trotz act soon?https://t.co/O2KpZFbxtm

– TVA Sports (@TVASports) November 20, 2024

– Wow.

In 184 games, the #NHLBruins lost just 41 times in regulation under Jim Montgomery.

41 times in 184 games.

120-41-23 record for .715 points percentage.

– Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) November 19, 2024