After suffering a heart-wrenching defeat in New York, the Montreal Canadiens returned to the ice to face off against the Edmonton Oilers. In a surprising move, Jacob Fowler’s backup, Jakub Dobes, was named the starting goaltender instead of the expected Samuel Montembeault.
This unexpected choice by head coach Martin St-Louis has raised eyebrows, especially since Dobes had previously played a supportive role during Fowler’s initial two NHL starts. However, many believe this decision could prove to be beneficial for the team moving forward.
As the Canadiens prepared for the game, all players participated in warm-ups, with final roster decisions expected to be announced shortly thereafter. Analyst Marco D’Amico confirmed that line-up clarity would come before the puck drop.
Montembeault has not seen starting play since December 2, when he faced the Ottawa Senators and conceded five goals on 29 shots. His recent performance, including appearing in relief against the Tampa Bay Lightning, highlighted a lack of confidence from St-Louis, who seems to favor the reliability of his two top goaltenders, Fowler and Dobes, for now.
While Montembeault’s dreams of Olympic participation may have taken a hit given his current standing, St-Louis’s primary focus remains on the success of the Canadiens, indicating a strategy of maintaining stability in goal. As the season progresses, fans will be eager to see how Dobes performs in this key matchup.