What Happened
Montreal Canadiens goaltender Samuel Montembeault left Wednesday's practice early with an undisclosed injury, according to Sportsnet. Head coach Martin St. Louis said afterward he had no update and that Montembeault was being evaluated. Montembeault has yet to make his season debut, with Jakub Dobes having started the Canadiens' first three games.
Key Details
- Montembeault exited Wednesday's practice with an undisclosed injury.
- Martin St. Louis said Montembeault is being evaluated and had no update.
- Jakub Dobes has started Montreal's first three games of the season.
- Montembeault had a 3.43 GAA and .872 save percentage in 25 games last season.
- Jacob Fowler, with AHL Laval, is the natural call-up option.
- Montreal hosts Nashville on Thursday.
What It Means
Montembeault was already in a secondary role after losing the starting job last season, and Dobes has opened the year as Montreal's starter. An extended absence would thin the Canadiens' NHL goaltending depth and could open the door for Jacob Fowler, who appeared in 17 NHL games last season with a 2.43 GAA and .908 save percentage.
What's Next
The Canadiens await medical evaluations to determine Montembeault's recovery timeline. Montreal plays the visiting Nashville Predators on Thursday, and a call-up of Jacob Fowler from AHL Laval is the likely move if Montembeault is unavailable.