Saturday night’s clash between the Montreal Canadiens and the New York Rangers has left fans and analysts buzzing, not just about the final score, but about the brewing storm in the Canadiens’ crease.

When BPM Sports analysts Anthony Marcotte and Gilbert Delorme took to the airwaves, their brutally honest assessment of Samuel Montembeault’s performance sent shockwaves through the hockey community. But what does this mean for Montembeault’s future—and could another goalie be quietly waiting to seize his moment?

As the Canadiens look ahead to their next matchup, the pressure is mounting, and the stakes have never been higher. With Montembeault’s recent struggles under the microscope and whispers of a shakeup in the goaltending hierarchy, tonight’s game could mark a turning point for more than one player. Will Jakub Dobes rise to the occasion and alter the course of the season? Or will Montembeault silence his critics and reclaim his spot between the pipes?

Behind the scenes, coaches and fans are watching every move, every save, and every goal allowed. The tension is palpable, and the outcome is far from certain. Dive into the full story to discover what’s really happening inside the Canadiens’ goalie battle—and what it could mean for the team’s future.

Samuel Montembeault (left) Gilbert Delorme (right)

Photo credit: All Habs / NHL

BPM Sports analysts Anthony Marcotte and Gilbert Delorme didn’t hold back when discussing Samuel Montembeault’s game Saturday night against the New York Rangers.

During his appearance on this morning’s show, Marcotte was very direct about the goaltender’s performance against the Rangers over the weekend:

“It’s the elephant in the room. Monty didn’t get the job done. It’s a very poor performance. The third goal should never happen in the NHL… it shouldn’t even happen in the QMJHL. A goal like that, sadly, Sam just didn’t have it, at all.”

– Anthony Marcotte

These comments reflect the sentiment of many fans who feel Montembeault is having a very, very rough start to the season… if not a bad one.

Jakub Dobes Could Benefit from the Situation, According to Gilbert Delorme

For his part, Gilbert Delorme believes that Jakub Dobes’ performance tonight against the Sabres could have a significant impact on the goaltending hierarchy.

“If Dobes plays well tonight, he should play again Wednesday, and maybe even take the number one spot.”

– Gilbert Delorme

These comments add some spice to the Canadiens’ goaltender battle, as Montembeault and Dobes are essentially competing for the role of true number one goalie.

For now, I’m sure Martin St-Louis still has confidence in his goaltenders, but it will be hard to ignore a solid Dobes in net if the trend continues.

Here are Monty’s stats so far this season:

Record: 2-2

Goals-against average: 3.26

Save percentage: 0.857

So I think Marcotte isn’t wrong at all. Montembeault will absolutely need to bounce back, because in this league, coaches’ patience is very short…

In short, in my opinion, tonight will be an important test for Dobes, but also a clear message for Montembeault. Nothing is guaranteed in Montreal.