The spotlight blazes across the ice at the Bell Centre, but tonight, the Montreal Canadiens’ crease is a stage for unexpected drama. As thousands of fans pour into the arena, a sudden twist electrifies the atmosphere—Samuel Montembeault, the trusted hometown netminder, is nowhere to be seen. Instead, two faces step into the glare: Jakub Dobes, the rookie sensation riding a wave of momentum, and Kaapo Kahkonen, the seasoned Finnish goaltender freshly recalled from Laval. The question on everyone’s mind: what will happen next?

The announcement ripples through social media and sports bars across Quebec—Montembeault is sidelined by illness, leaving the Canadiens scrambling to fill the void at the very heart of their defense. In a single night, the goalie hierarchy is upended, and the stakes for Montreal’s playoff hopes become more unpredictable than ever. For a second consecutive game, Jakub Dobes finds himself thrust into the starting role, facing the St. Louis Blues with the pressure of an entire city on his shoulders.

Just 24 years old, Dobes has already begun rewriting expectations in Montreal. His recent heroics against the Maple Leafs—22 saves and a clutch shootout victory—have fans and analysts buzzing about his potential. A fifth-round pick turned rookie bargain, Dobes is showing poise and resilience that defy his age and contract. Yet, as he prepares to defend his net once again, the shadow of Montembeault’s absence looms large, and the arrival of Kahkonen adds another layer of intrigue.

Kaapo Kahkonen, the Canadiens’ emergency call-up, brings with him a wealth of experience and a track record of steady performances in both Laval and the NHL. Six wins in nine games with the Rocket, a solid goals-against average, and nearly 150 NHL appearances—all eyes will be on how he fits into Montreal’s complex goalie puzzle. Signed to a one-year deal, Kahkonen’s journey from Minnesota to San Jose, New Jersey, Colorado, and now Montreal is a story in itself, and tonight could be the beginning of a new chapter.

Meanwhile, Montembeault’s absence raises uncomfortable questions about the future of the Canadiens’ net. On paper, he remains the number-one goalie, backed by a lucrative three-year contract and the hopes of a fanbase eager for stability. But with a rocky start to the season and Dobes surging forward, the competition for the crease is fiercer than ever. Is this just a temporary setback for Montembeault, or the start of a changing of the guard in Montreal?

As the Canadiens chase their third straight win and try to solidify their place in the playoff race, the tension in the Bell Centre is palpable. Will Dobes rise to the occasion in this rare back-to-back scenario, or will Kahkonen seize his moment and challenge for more ice time? The answers are hidden behind the next shift, the next save, and the next headline. Tonight, the goaltending story in Montreal is anything but ordinary—and if you want to know how this unpredictable saga unfolds, you’ll have to keep reading.

Photo of Samuel Montembeault (left) and Kaapo Kahkonen (right)

Photo credit: All Montreal Hockey / NHL

Samuel Montembeault is sick and must give up his net tonight against the St. Louis Blues at the Bell Centre.

The Canadiens confirmed Sunday that the Quebec goaltender will not participate in the game and that Kaapo Kahkonen has been recalled from the Laval Rocket to serve as backup behind Jakub Dobeš.

Result: for a second night in a row, it is Dobes who finds himself in the crease. Yesterday, Saturday in Toronto, he stopped 22 shots in a 2-1 shootout win against the Maple Leafs, earning a second consecutive victory for the Canadiens.

“The Canadiens have recalled goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen from the Laval Rocket. Samuel Montembeault (sick) will not participate in tonight’s game. Jakub Dobes will be in the net against the Blues.”

– Montreal Canadiens

Jakub Dobes strings together starts with the Canadiens

At 24 years old, a 5th-round pick of the Canadiens in 2020, Dobeš shows this season a record of 9-3-2, a goals-against average of 3.11, and a save percentage of .891 in 14 NHL games.

The young goaltender also earned, last summer, a two-year contract worth a total of $1.93 million, making him still a true «rookie bargain» in goal when looking at today’s goalie market.

In the background, Montembeault, 29, remains the number-one goalie on paper. His three-year contract signed in 2023 pays him $3.15 million per season, for a total of $9.45 million, but he carries this year a record of 5-6-1 with a 3.61 goals-against average.

Kahkonen arrives with very good numbers in Laval: six wins in nine games, a goals-against average of 2.81 and a save percentage of .895 with the Rocket this season.
The 29-year-old Finnish goaltender has accumulated 140 games of NHL experience between 2019 and 2024 with the Minnesota Wild, San Jose Sharks, New Jersey Devils, and Colorado Avalanche, and he accepted this summer a one-year, $1.15 million contract with the Canadiens.

Tonight, the Canadiens will look to improve their 15-9-3 record and continue their momentum in front of their fans, after consecutive wins against the Jets and the Maple Leafs.

All eyes will be on how Dobes responds in this rare back-to-back scenario, and on Kahkonen’s first Montreal steps in a Canadiens uniform.