The Montreal Canadiens’ Saturday night showdown against the New York Rangers was supposed to be a celebration—a testament to their strong start and home-ice dominance.

With the Bell Centre buzzing and early goals from Juraj Slafkovsky and Nick Suzuki electrifying the crowd, everything pointed toward another memorable victory. Yet, as the minutes ticked by, a shocking reversal unfolded. The Canadiens’ two-goal cushion evaporated, and for the first time since February, the team suffered a regulation loss on home ice—a statistic that left fans and analysts reeling.

But what truly set this night apart wasn’t just the final score. In the aftermath, all eyes turned to Samuel Montembeault, the usually reliable netminder, whose performance and post-game comments sparked immediate debate.

As the Rangers seized control, defensive lapses and unexpected struggles in goal created a perfect storm that no one saw coming. Montembeault’s raw honesty after the game only deepened the intrigue, raising questions about accountability, leadership, and what lies ahead for the Canadiens.

What exactly went wrong after such a flawless start? Why did Montembeault shoulder the blame so openly? And can the Habs bounce back as they prepare for their next big test? The answers may surprise you.

Canadiens goalie Samuel Montembeault vs. the Rangers

Photo credit: All Habs / NHL

Despite an almost perfect start to the season, the Montreal Canadiens saw their two-goal lead disappear very quickly on Saturday night in a 4-3 loss to the New York Rangers at the Bell Centre.

An insane statistic! It’s the first time since February that the Tricolore has lost in regulation at home.

What makes it even more special is the fact that it was a game that had started very well, with quick goals from Juraj Slafkovsky and Nick Suzuki.

But after that perfect start, everything changed for the worse.

The Rangers gradually regained control of the game, taking advantage of a few defensive errors and a goaltender who was a little less solid than usual.

Samuel Montembeault takes the blame after the Montreal Canadiens’ loss

After the game, Samuel Montembeault didn’t try to make excuses.

Visibly disappointed, Monty made sure to be as honest as possible:

“I’m gonna take most of the blame. I have to be better… The guys are working hard & playing well on both sides of puck. It’s on me to make the saves.”

– Samuel Montembeault

Montembeault stopped only 18 shots, and I really believe he’d probably like to have another look at Matthew Robertson’s goal in the third period.

But I have to say this too: his teammates weren’t perfect either. The Canadiens seemed “flat” after an excellent start to the game.

I really like Monty’s response.

He didn’t point fingers at anyone – he simply took responsibility. That’s the kind of attitude you like to see from a goaltender.

It was also Noah Dobson’s first goal as a Hab!

Next game for the Habs: Monday night, against the Buffalo Sabres.

After two spectacular wins this week, the Canadiens will now have to prove that they can win without needing a miracle at the end of the game.