Montreal Canadiens Goaltending Dilemma: Dobes, Montembeault, and the Potential Call-Up of Jacob Fowler
The Montreal Canadiens are facing a decision on their goaltending situation, with Jakub Dobes set to start against the Maple Leafs on Saturday and Samuel Montembeault likely to start against the Blues on Sunday. Dobes has been performing well with a 9-3-2 record, while Montembeault has struggled with a 5-6-1 record. The team might consider calling up Jacob Fowler from the AHL's Laval Rocket if the goaltending issues persist.
With the Atlantic Division standings tight and the Canadiens holding a playoff spot, it is crucial for them to have consistent goaltending. Dobes has shown promise with his performance, while Montembeault's struggles have been evident in the team's recent games. Fowler, with his impressive AHL stats, could be a potential solution if the current goaltenders continue to falter.
The decision on which goaltender to trade, Montembeault or Dobes, will likely depend on their performance for the rest of the season. Montembeault has a higher salary-cap hit and is older than Dobes, making him a more likely candidate for a trade to make room for Fowler. The team's performance in the upcoming games will also influence any potential trades before the Christmas break.
The Canadiens' defensive pairings have been set up to match veterans with the opposition's top line, with Matheson and Dobson, Struble and Hutson, and Xhekaj with Carrier. The pairings are likely to remain the same until Kaiden Guhle returns from injury. Juraj Slafkovsky's size and reach could make him effective on the penalty-kill, but his current role on the top line and power-play unit limits his ice time.
The Canadiens have been hosting Homecoming Nights for former players who left on bad terms, showing a commitment to repairing relationships with key players. Considering the positive response from fans and players, a Homecoming Night for Max Pacioretty, who left the team after a dispute with the former GM, could be a good idea. Shootout goals, while not counted in a player's season goal total, are important for securing wins and could be recognized with a season-ending award for the player with the most shootout goals.