Contrary to popular belief, there is no goaltender controversy on the Canadiens — at least not yet.
While some of the would-be coaches and hockey know-it-alls were clamouring for Montreal to start rookie netminder Jakub Dobes Tuesday night against the Tampa Bay Lightning, head coach Martin St. Louis as expected returned to veteran Samuel Montembeault, beaten six times last Saturday against Toronto. Dobes, the following night against the New York Rangers, was a winner, again, stretching his unblemished record to 5-0.
St. Louis played the game, impeccably at times, and knows veteran players deserve a certain amount of respect. The fact is Montembeault has carried the Canadiens many times this season, holding them in games on many nights, including this 3-2 comeback win. He deserves better than being thrown under the bus. And while Dobes has launched his NHL career impressively, it’s a five-game sample size.
As the season progresses, and if the Canadiens remain in the playoff hunt come late March, it might behoove St. Louis at that time to ride the hot hand. Not yet, however, although Dobes’s 1.55 goals-against average and .940 save percentage look awfully good.
End of debate.
They have long memories: It seems Montreal fans aren’t willing to forgive and forget Nikita Kucherov’s disparaging remarks against them almost four years ago, after the Lightning defeated the Canadiens in the 2021 Stanley Cup final. And so, every time the right-winger touched the puck on Tuesday, they expressed their displeasure.
Tampa Bay captured that final in five games, after which a shirtless Kucherov, beer-in-hand, suggested Bell Centre spectators got carried away after the Canadiens’ overtime triumph in the fourth game.
“The fans in Montreal acted like they won the Stanley Cup last game,” he said. “Are you kidding me? Their final was last round.”
This ink-stained scribe believes the NHL needs more outspoken players like Kucherov.
Team of goons: Heading into this game the Canadiens ranked second in the NHL, having taken 179 minor penalties, trailing Florida — the defending Cup champions sitting at 185. Montreal was assessed four minors against the Lightning.
News you need (Part I): Tampa Bay is the only NHL team with four 20-goal scorers — Brayden Point, Jake Guentzel, Kucherov and Brandon Hagel.
No stopping the kid: Rookie Canadiens defenceman Lane Hutson drew one assist against Tampa Bay, increasing his point streak to nine games. That matches the second-longest run by a rookie in team history, trailing only Joe Malone, who had a 14-game streak in 1917-18. During the 2015-16 season, Philadelphia’s Shayne Gostisbehere, a rookie at the time, also had a nine-game streak.
Slow start: The Canadiens were facing a team that played Monday night, losing 5-3 in Toronto. While it was Montreal’s third game in four nights, the team was well-rested, having not practised Monday. Nonetheless, the Canadiens didn’t generate their first shot until the seventh minute, by Kirby Dach. A Mike Matheson blast that struck the post in the third minute didn’t count as an official shot.
Giveaway: In the game’s ninth minute, Matheson to Kucherov. Not the guy to whom you want to turn the puck over.
Guess he never played soccer as a kid: Kaiden Guhle lost the puck in his feet on the visitors’ opening goal, Kucherov’s 22nd this season, at 14:20 of the first period.
He’s hot … finally: Juraj Slafkovsky scored the Canadiens’ opening goal, on the power play, at 5:32 of the second period. The former first overall draft choice has three goals in four games, but only seven on the season.
Dumb penalty: We’re still trying to fathom why Christian Dvorak is on the Canadiens’ second power play unit. We’re also trying to determine why he tripped Darren Raddysh behind the Lightning net in the dying seconds of the opening period, thwarting Montreal’s man advantage.
Dumber penalty: Early in the second period, Conor Geekie tripped Dvorak in the offensive zone. We wonder what Geekie’s nickname was in grade school?
Taking himself out of the Cy Young conversation: With two assists against the Lightning, the Patrik Laine line reads 12-5 — goals and assists. He might want to consider becoming more selfish.
He can check, too: Late in the second period Hutson, listed at 5-foot-9 and 162 pounds, checked Point, two inches taller and 13 pounds heavier, behind the Canadiens’ net.
News you need (Part II): Luke Glendening, who has now gone 17 games without a point, was alone in front of Montembeault early in the third period. The fourth-line centre remains mired at two goals and four points through 46 games.
There’s no goalie controversy: Of the Lightning’s 35 shots, 24 came over the final two periods. In the third alone Montembeault robbed Glendening, Kucherov, Michael Eyssimont and, in the final minute, Anthony Cirelli’s rebound.
Pass of the night: Joel Armia to Jake Evans on the winning goal, with 2:15 remaining in regulation time.
Next time, decline the penalty: The Lighting went 0-for-4 on the power play.
Quick stats: Slafkovsky had four shots and three hits. Dach had four hits. Montembeault’s save percentage was .943.
They said it: “That (goal) was special,” Evans said. “Some goals have been hard to find lately for me. To get that one at that moment of the game … a team that we’re obviously chasing, was special. We just have so much belief in how we play. No lead’s too far off for us to chase. We were down two and weren’t playing our best but knew, if we started playing our hockey, it’s going to be easy to get back in it.”
“It feels really good,” Montembeault said. “That’s two good games (for me) against them. It’s always fun to compete against those guys. Some of the best players in the league are on that side. I’m happy to get the win tonight.”
“I’ve been trying to use my speed in different ways,” said Alex Newhook, who scored Montreal’s second goal. “I’ve been feeling good about my game. We don’t want to be caught in those (deficit) situations, especially coming down the stretch. We don’t want to be chasing the game all the time. If there’s anything we can take away from this success we’ve found, it’s getting out to better starts is important for us.”