The Montreal Canadiens have dealt with their crowded crease with likely the most unexpected option. On Tuesday, the team sent goaltender Samuel Montembeault to the AHL’s Laval Rocket on a conditioning basis.
Montembeault last played a week ago, on December 9 and prior to that hadn’t played since December 2 due to an illness.
The team announced that Jacob Fowler will start Tuesday’s game against the Philadelphia Flyers with Jakub Dobeš backing him up. This will provide Montembeault an opportunity to get back into game shape without the bright lights and expectations of the NHL. The goalie has struggled this season, with a 3.65 goals against average and .865 save percentage in 13 games.
The Rocket play two road games in Cleveland on Thursday and Saturday before their holiday break. Montembeault will likely be back in the NHL at that point. Montembeault last played in the AHL in the 2020-21 season with the Syracuse Crunch.
