It was quite the showing for Samuel Montembeault against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday and the NHL has now adjusted his stats, making it even more impressive.
The 2024-2025 NHL season kicked off for the Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday night, and after a thrilling 60 minutes of hockey, it was the Habs that walked away with the 1-0 victory after a gorgeous goal from phenom Cole Caufield. It was thanks to moments like this that Montreal skated away with the victory:
Montembeault stops Matthews at the buzzer to complete the 47 save shutout 👀 pic.twitter.com/PYz85uRXB6
— Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights & News (@HockeyDaily365) October 10, 2024
Unreal performance from #Habs Sam Montembeault tonight. Dialed in for the full 60, including this last-second stop on Matthews. That's what we call a steal. pic.twitter.com/jK8hwVWj8K
— The Goalie Guild (@TheGoalieGuild) October 10, 2024
The main factor in the shutout win was none other than goaltender Samuel Montembeault, who started this season with an incredible performance against a relentless Maple Leafs offense, showing poise and grace even under the most intense pressure. At the end of the day it was a 47-save spectacular, however on Thursday, the NHL made a slight adjustment to that number, making it all the more impressive:
The league has changed the shot total to 48. So, a 48-save shutout to open the season for Sam Montembeault. https://t.co/gAvaGVeIoH
— Arpon Basu (@ArponBasu) October 10, 2024
Montembeault etched his name in the annals of Canadiens history, having the highest amount of saves in NHL history for a season opener since 1955-56, surpassing Filip Gustavsson who had 41 saves last season in the opener for the Minnesota Wild.
The Montreal goaltender has been a bright spot in a rough spell for the Canadiens, and has quietly become one of the more underrated netminders in the league as pointed out by Steven Ellis of The Daily Faceoff:
Samuel Montembeault might not be viewed as a star goaltender in the NHL – and one great game won't change that.
But he's been very much under the radar the past few years if you haven't watched many Habs games.
His 18.58 goals saved above expected was 10th in the NHL last… pic.twitter.com/Nuhinp6rCP
— Steven Ellis (@SEllisHockey) October 10, 2024
Since joining Montreal, he’s amassed a 41-52-18 record with a 3.39 GAA and an even 900 SV%, however last season he went 16-15-9 with a 3.04 GAA and .903 SV% which are much better numbers as he comes into this season as Montreal’s #1. A waiver claim off the Panthers in 2021, Montembeault never found a spot with the Panthers, with their logjam of goaltenders such as Roberto Luongo, James Reimer, and Sergei Bobrovsky and Montreal scooped him up as insurance for Carey Price and Jake Allen. Splitting time with Allen for two seasons, he’s now called upon to lead Montreal after Allen left for New Jersey in free agency.
It was an incredible showing from Montembeault who will be silencing any critics who believe that he isn’t ready; he faced the greatest goal scorer in the league and stoned him cold. It’s been a while since Montreal has their goalie of the future but with Sam Montembeault; the future is now.
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