NEWARK | If Jake Allen had been at the Bell Center on Tuesday night, he would no doubt have personally made sure to silence the awkward people making fun of Samuel Montembeault.
Allen, the very definition of class and kindness, certainly wouldn't have accepted his former teammate being attacked even if he had allowed three goals on the Flyers' first five shots.
According to the 35-year-old veteran, who now plays for the New Jersey Devils, Montembeault was the reason the Canadian was able to earn a point after his shootout loss. Montembeault also finished the game with 38 saves.
“I watched most of the match and without him they would have been demoted,” he insisted as he removed some of his equipment. I think this is a step in the right direction for him.”
He is respected
Monty is off to a rocky start to the season with a 3-3-1 record, a 3.67 goals-against average and a .855 efficiency rating, well short of the .900 threshold for respectability. That doesn't stop Allen from believing Montembeault will pull himself together.
“He came to us through waivers and last year he was selected for Team Canada and led the Canadians to the playoffs, he's going in the right direction. All goalies have tougher moments and this won't be the only one he goes through, but I have full confidence in him.”
“If I could talk to myself when I was younger, I would tell myself not to constantly expect perfection, even when my team is on fire. Perfection should not be part of a goalie's vocabulary. I believe that if he continues to do what he does well and takes a broader perspective in the years to come, he will see that he is a good goalkeeper who is valued in other teams' locker rooms and in the goalkeeping community.”
Allen has one final piece of advice for his former teammate.
“We have to stay away from all the noise around us and stay in our own little world. We also shouldn't think that everything will be decided in one match. It takes a few games and a few good shots. In the meantime, we have to stay in a good mood and live everything neutrally.”
