Ahead of the Montreal Canadiens’ contest against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday night, their goalies Sam Montembeault and Cayden Primeau have surrendered the second-most goals this season, 58, just three behind the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Overall, the Canadiens rank dead last, tied with the San Jose Sharks, for the league’s worst goal differential at minus-20. At this exact point in the previous season, Montreal was only minus-6, so for those who say that the team is still rebuilding and there will be growing pains, the club seems to be trending in the wrong direction.
Of the 71 goalies to play in the NHL this season, Montembeault ranks 45th in save percentage (SV%) and 54th in goals-against average (GAA). Meanwhile, Primeau comes in 61st in SV% and 65th in GAA.
In the AHL, Laval Rocket starter Connor Hughes is having a spectacular start to his North American professional hockey career. In six games, he’s 5-1-0 with just 12 goals against, equaling a 1.99 GAA and .931 SV%.
Hughes currently ranks 14th in GAA and SV% while compiling the fifth-most wins in the league. His partner, Jakub Dobes, is keeping pace with a 4-0-0 record, a 2.25 GAA, and a .910 SV%.
Meanwhile, the Penguins have had their troubles with goaltenders this season. Their top starter, Tristan Jarry, just finished a conditioning stint in the AHL, earning a 4-1-0 record.
Their backup goalie, Joel Blomqvist, was a star in the minors last season, and the netminder with the most starts is Alex Nedeljkovic, who has been hit and miss since returning from an injury.
Despite being a rookie, Blomqvist is 3-4-0 with a 3.25 GAA and .913 SV% in seven appearances. Considering how bad the Penguins have been defensively, he’s kept them in games some nights.
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Pittsburgh decided to let the youngster play in the NHL this year, and he’s been one of the better players on a nightly basis. In Montreal, the team is now on its second five-game losing streak, with their two goalies struggling to make saves.
Thus far, the Canadiens continue to swap out forwards and defensemen, but why not call up Hughes or Dobes from the AHL and get them into action?
If the plan isn’t to challenge for a playoff spot as a rebuilding team to contend in the future, why not try what Pittsburgh has done and give their top starter a chance to regain himself in the AHL?
It’s not the craziest idea because playing in front of a confident goalie changes a team’s dynamics and is one of the key ingredients to success.
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