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The Canadiens left Pittsburgh around 11:30 p.m. last night with a bonus point, but more importantly, with three points out of a possible four this weekend against Sidney Crosby's gang. With a little more luck in overtime, it would have been four. #MissionAccomplished
The guys took a short flight to Boston early in the night and arrived at their hotel around 1:15 a.m. So it's easy to see why Martin St-Louis chose to give them the day off, rather than hold a practice session today.
But just because the Canadiens aren't practicing today doesn't mean they didn't practice this morning. No!
Phillip Danault skated for the first time in his second stint with the Habs (in Brossard). According to Patrick Guillet, our on-site reporter, Danault seemed in perfect health: no virus or minor injury to worry about.
Danault will once again wear #24 with the Canadiens.
But Danault isn't the player who most caught my attention this morning. No!
Samuel Montembeault jumped on the ice with the Rocket's goaltending coach, but in his Canadiens vest. #MixMe
Samuel Montembeault just appeared in a Habs sweater.
He's accompanied by Rocket goaltending coach Marco Marciano.@DLCoulisses #GoHabsGo #Montembeault #NHL pic.twitter.com/XBZ1g5nlXH
– Patrick Guillet (@PatGuillet) December 22, 2025
It will be recalled that the original plan, as indicated by Martin St-Louis himself, was to have Samuel travel from Cleveland to Pittsburgh on Saturday night or Sunday morning. In the end, the Montreal staff decided to bring Montembeault back to Montreal on the Rocket bus on Saturday night. The official reason: to avoid unnecessary travel.
The real reason: they had already planned to give yesterday's start to Dobes, as well as tomorrow's to Fowler. Fowler had just signed a shutout and Dobes had just had two one-goal games. Montembeault's presence with the Montreal team became unnecessary.
The plan now is to bring Monty back to Florida with the team. Will he be able to steal minutes from Dobes or Fowler? We'll see.
Back to this morning's practice session in Brossard.
Montembeault took shots from Phillip Danault. He made a lot more saves than he let in pucks.
Samuel Montembeault is practicing in Brossard this morning with Phillip Danault, the Rocket's goaltending coach (Marco Marciano), but in his Habs jersey.
Montembeault and Danault look perfectly healthy… and all three speak French to each other. pic.twitter.com/ywjk28AJET
– DansLesCoulisses (@DLCoulisses) December 22, 2025
Note that Danault, Montembeault, and Marciano spoke French to each other on the ice.
I know… it's only a two-player practice, but I have to say I love Marco Marciano's intensity and methods. And it looks like Marciano has fixed – in the space of just a few days – a couple of things that were lacking in Montembeault's technique. When will Marciano be promoted to the NHL?
