Montembeault Shines, Canadiens Cruise Past Jets Ahead of Olympic Break
If Wednesday night was Samuel Montembeault’s answer to his critics, it was delivered loud and clear - and with a little flair.
Making his first start since January 24 in Boston, the Canadiens’ netminder turned in one of his sharpest performances of the season, stopping 36 shots in a commanding 5-1 win over the Winnipeg Jets at Canada Life Centre. And if not for a Kyle Connor power-play goal just over six minutes into the game, Montembeault would’ve been staring down his first shutout of the year.
Instead, he settled for stopping 30 straight shots after that early blemish, several of which came on high-danger chances. His final stat line? A .973 save percentage - and a whole lot of confidence heading into the Canadiens’ three-week Olympic break.
Let’s not get ahead of ourselves - it’s one game. But it’s the kind of performance that reminds you what Montembeault is capable of when he’s locked in.
If he can dial into the form he showed last season, and if Jakub Dobes continues his solid stretch of play, Montreal could have a goaltending tandem that makes things interesting down the stretch. That is, of course, if they’re still in the playoff mix when the schedule resumes.
And for those keeping track of the little things: yes, Montembeault debuted a new mask against Winnipeg. Hockey players are a superstitious bunch.
Coincidence? Probably not.
Gallagher Turns Back the Clock
Brendan Gallagher has heard the whispers - too slow, past his prime, shouldn’t be on the power play. But the 33-year-old forward had a vintage outing, posting a goal and two assists for his 12th career three-point game and his first since March 18 of last year against Ottawa.
Gallagher’s not the player he once was, but his value to this team goes beyond the scoresheet. He’s still the emotional engine of the locker room, a guy who leaves it all on the ice and always has something worth quoting postgame. Nights like this are a reminder that he’s still got something left in the tank - and that the Canadiens would miss more than his stats if he weren’t in the lineup.
Caufield’s Curious Drought
Cole Caufield leads Montreal with 32 goals this season - a mark of his continued emergence as the team’s go-to scorer. But here’s a stat that’ll raise an eyebrow: he’s never scored against the Jets in the regular season.
That’s 11 games and counting without a goal against Winnipeg. Some things in hockey just don’t make sense.
Bolduc’s Break Comes at the Right Time
Zachary Bolduc could use a reset. The rookie forward has now gone 20 games without a goal, though he’s picked up four assists in his last five outings.
The effort’s there, but the finish hasn’t followed. With the Olympic break now here, Bolduc gets a much-needed chance to regroup and hopefully come back with a little more puck luck.
Danault’s Empty-Netter Highlights Wild Finish
Winnipeg pulled the goalie with nearly six minutes left in regulation, but the Canadiens struggled to cash in on the empty net. Montreal missed the mark on at least six attempts, most of them resulting in icing calls. They finally broke through with a short-handed goal from Phillip Danault, but it was a chaotic sequence that showed just how difficult it can be to hit an open net - even with time and space.
Jets’ Season Spirals
It’s hard to believe this is the same Winnipeg team that won the Presidents’ Trophy last season. The Jets have unraveled in spectacular fashion, and Wednesday’s loss was another chapter in a brutal campaign that’s included an 11-game winless streak (0-7-4) between December 15 and January 8. They’ve already surpassed last year’s regulation loss total by four, and their 175 goals allowed are just 15 shy of their full-season total from a year ago.
This is also the oldest team in the league - the only one with an average age over 30 - and it’s starting to show. The wheels haven’t just come off; the whole frame’s shaking.
If this isn’t the beginning of a rebuild, it might be time to seriously consider it. Or, to put it more bluntly: blow it up.
Looking Ahead
The Canadiens head into the Olympic break with a little momentum and a lot of questions still to answer. But if Montembeault’s performance is any indication, they might just have the kind of goaltending that can keep things interesting. For now, though, they’ll enjoy the pause - and maybe take a moment to appreciate a night where everything clicked.