There are nights in hockey when the score tells only part of the story, and then there are nights like this—when every shift, every save, and every decision seems to carry extra weight. Last night at the Bell Centre, as the Montreal Canadiens hosted the Los Angeles Kings on “Military Appreciation Night,” the atmosphere was charged with anticipation. Fans packed the stands, hoping for a performance worthy of the occasion, but what unfolded was a game that left more questions than answers.

From the opening puck drop, the Kings asserted their dominance, and the Canadiens struggled to find their footing. The second period proved disastrous, with three rapid goals from Los Angeles sending shockwaves through the arena and sapping the energy from the home team. As the final horn sounded, the 5-1 loss stung not only for its margin but for the sense of deflation that settled over the Habs and their supporters. Yet, in the midst of disappointment, a different kind of drama was brewing—one focused squarely on the man between the pipes.

Samuel Montembeault, Montreal’s promising goaltender, found himself at the center of scrutiny. Each goal allowed, each missed opportunity for a big save, seemed to magnify the pressure he faced. With the Canadiens languishing near the bottom of the league in shots and offensive production, the spotlight inevitably shifted to the defensive end—and to Montembeault’s performance. Social media buzzed with speculation, and even the presence of high-profile executives in the stands added fuel to the fire. Was Montembeault’s place on Team Canada in jeopardy? Was his confidence shaken by the rough start to the season?

But as the post-game press conference unfolded, a surprising twist emerged. Head coach Martin St. Louis, known for his candor and competitive spirit, was asked directly about his concern for Montembeault’s form and mental state. Rather than joining the chorus of criticism, St. Louis delivered a message that caught many off guard. He defended his goaltender, shifting the narrative away from individual blame and toward collective responsibility. The coach’s words were clear: the team hadn’t supported Montembeault, and the loss was not his alone to bear.

This moment of leadership—protecting a player in the face of adversity—stood out amid the disappointment of the night. It raised new questions about the dynamics within the Canadiens’ locker room, the expectations placed on their young players, and the path forward as the season continues. What does St. Louis’s stance mean for Montembeault’s future in Montreal? How will the team respond to this public vote of confidence? And what did the watchful eyes of rival executives see in the Quebec goaltender’s performance?

For fans, analysts, and even the players themselves, the answers remain elusive. The Canadiens announced a practice in Brossard the next morning, hinting at adjustments to come. But for now, the story of this night is one of disappointment, resilience, and the quiet strength of a coach who chose to stand by his player when it mattered most.

Read on to discover what really happened behind the scenes, what’s next for Montembeault, and how Martin St. Louis’s message could shape the fate of the Canadiens this season.

Photo of Armia scoring on Samuel Montembeault (left) Martin St. Louis (right)

Photo credit: All Habs / NHL

The Montreal Canadiens and the Los Angeles Kings faced off last night in a one-sided game, and Martin St. Louis made sure to deliver a clear message about Samuel Montembeault.

Unfortunately the “Military Appreciation Night” at the Bell Centre didn’t go the way the Habs or their fans had hoped…

The Kings quickly took control of the game with three quick goals in the second period while the Habs “were asleep at the wheel.”

In the end, that 5-1 loss left a bitter taste for everyone – except maybe for the head coach of the Tricolore, who chose to defend his goaltender instead of blaming him.

I’ll be honest: with only 22 shots on goal, the Canadiens never really looked in it.

It felt like the team was running on empty, with nothing really clicking. That’s an area they’ll need to address quickly – they currently sit near the bottom of the league in shots, ranking second last overall.

Martin St. Louis defends Samuel Montembeault after the loss

In the post-game press conference, Martin St. Louis was asked if he was worried about Montembeault’s rough start to the season.

His answer was straightforward:

Martin St-Louis says he’s not concerned about Sam Montembeault’s confidence:

“I think we have 2 goalies, we’ve played pretty well as a group, we weren’t sharp in front of Monty tonight so I’m not worried.”

– Priyanta Emrith

I think the message was clear.

St. Louis chose to protect his player, reminding everyone that the goalie wasn’t helped by the defense in front of him.

The Kings dominated the scoring chances, leaving Monty practically alone several times.

That said, on this goal, he was clearly weak:

Meanwhile, in the stands, Doug Armstrong and Julien BriseBois were watching the Quebec goaltender closely.

And I get the feeling that this performance didn’t help his case for a spot on Team Canada…

You can watch the postgame interviews here:

The Habs announced they will hold a practice in Brossard this morning.