The Canadiens may have won 4-3 in overtime against the Senators on Saturday night, but let's just say it wasn't Samuel Montembeault who saved the day. His exit yesterday was unconvincing, and MoneyPuck's numbers confirm what many fans saw with their own eyes.
According to the specialized website, Montembeault is currently the second worst goalie in the NHL in Goals saved exceeded expectationsa statistic that measures how many goals a goalkeeper prevents (or allows) based on the quality of shots. As a result, he allowed 7.6 more goals than expected this season. Only Linus Ullmark of the Ottawa Senators is doing worse. Not ideal for a guy who needs to establish himself as Montreal's number one.
Here's the diagram in question.
Worst goalkeepers this season https://t.co/RtBkDPbSlu pic.twitter.com/80iHGbvosN
– Moneypuck.com (@MoneyPuckdotcom) November 2, 2025
And yesterday was another perfect summary of his start to the season: good saves here and there, but also some worrying moments. On Ottawa's first goal, the Quebec goaltender went the wrong way, sliding to his left and leaving the puck to his right. The result was an open cage and a headache-inducing goal. This is not an unstoppable shot, this is a reading error, pure and simple.
It's a sequence of events that once it happens, you quickly move on. But when this happens week after week, it starts to cause a stir. And in Montreal, we know how quickly the patience of a questionable goalie runs out.
The rest of his play wasn't catastrophic, but he never seemed to have complete control over the situation either. Dangerous puck returns, a little hesitation in his movements and that little lack of confidence that we've noticed since the beginning of the season. Fortunately, the forwards again coped with the task, otherwise today we would be talking about a completely different result.
Meanwhile, Jakub Dobes continues to impress. The young Czech, who has shared goal with Montembeault since the start of the season, has shown consistency and composure in goal as he remains unbeaten. He doesn't perform miracles, but he doesn't give away a lot of free goals either. And this is worth its weight in gold for a coach.
In short, Montembeault needed to take advantage of the start of the season to establish his number one status. Right now, he's basically giving Dobs a chance to steal the job. And in Montreal, once the net starts to slip out of your hands, it's not easy to get it back.
after a while
– Charles Coste dies at the age of 101.
Charles Coste, the world's oldest Olympic champion, has died at the age of 101. https://t.co/RbYPyJB0vC
– Radio Canada Sports (@RC_Sports) November 2, 2025
– Jean-Gabriel Pageau avenges his teammate with a powerful blow.
Miles Wood knocked the puck away from Matthew Schaefer and JG Pageau hit him back. pic.twitter.com/LfEq0WcC1a
– Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) November 2, 2025
– The Lightning won their fifth win in a row over the Utah Mammoth.
@TBLightning won FIVE in a row! 5° pic.twitter.com/gbICcux9m4
– NHL (@NHL) November 2, 2025
– Matthew Sheafer scores his fourth goal of the season.
MATTHEW SCHAEFER
This is already the fourth match of the season for the 18-year-old guy! pic.twitter.com/KORVAYmSD5
– NHL (@NHL) November 2, 2025
— The Islanders score two goals late in the third period and walk away with the win trailing by one goal.
AND THESE ISLANDS?
They score two goals in 29 seconds late to win the third! pic.twitter.com/SgXcz2aKOz
– NHL (@NHL) November 3, 2025
