The lights at Bell Centre had barely dimmed after Sunday night’s heartbreak, but the real drama was only just beginning. As the final buzzer echoed through the stands, Montreal Canadiens fans were still reeling from a 4-3 defeat at the hands of the St. Louis Blues—a loss that shattered hopes of a weekend sweep and left the city’s hockey faithful searching for answers. Yet, what happened off the ice was far more intriguing than anything that played out in front of the roaring crowd.

In the locker room, behind closed doors, a revelation was quietly delivered that would shift the entire narrative surrounding Montreal’s goaltending future. The cameras caught Martin St-Louis and Samuel Montembeault in a brief, private exchange—a moment that seemed ordinary, but would soon take on new meaning as the night unfolded. The Canadiens’ attempt to rally behind Lane Hutson, Cole Caufield, and Noah Dobson had fallen short, and while Jordan Binnington’s 23 saves stole headlines, a single absence loomed larger than any highlight: Samuel Montembeault, Montreal’s trusted netminder, was nowhere to be found in the lineup.

The official explanation was simple—Montembeault was scratched due to illness. But beneath that statement, there was a subtle tension, an unspoken plan that had been derailed by a poorly timed virus. Jakub Dobes, called upon at the eleventh hour, learned only that morning he would be starting. Kaapo Kahkonen, summoned from Laval, filled the backup role. For most, it seemed like a routine shuffle, the kind of roster adjustment every NHL team makes when flu season hits. But for those watching closely, Martin St-Louis’ post-game revelation was anything but routine.

Standing before the media, St-Louis confirmed what many had suspected but few dared to say out loud: Samuel Montembeault was supposed to be the man in net. The coach’s plan was clear—if not for the illness, Montembeault would have faced the Blues, defending Montreal’s crease in the season’s most crucial moments. This was no mere medical update; it was a message, a signal sent directly to the heart of the Canadiens’ goaltending hierarchy. In St-Louis’ mind, Montembeault remains the number one, the trusted backbone of the team, even when fate conspires to keep him off the ice.

That single revelation changed everything. It cast new light on the Canadiens’ recent moves, including the swift reassignment of Kahkonen back to Laval after the final horn. Suddenly, every decision, every lineup tweak, was seen through a different lens—a lens that focused squarely on Montembeault’s status and the coach’s unwavering faith in his abilities. For fans, it offered clarity in the midst of disappointment, a promise that Montreal’s future in net was not as uncertain as the night’s score might suggest.

But what does this mean for the Canadiens going forward? Is Montembeault truly untouchable, or does this confidence come with strings attached? How will the team navigate the delicate balance between health, performance, and trust as the season grinds on? The answers remain hidden, buried beneath the surface of a single, game-changing revelation—a revelation that, for now, leaves more questions than answers, and promises that the real story in Montreal is only just beginning.

Photo of Martin St-Louis and Samuel Montembeault

Photo credit: All Montreal Hockey / NHL

After Sunday’s loss to the Blues, Martin St-Louis made a revelation that changes the tone surrounding Samuel Montembeault.

The Canadiens saw their attempt at a weekend sweep fall apart, losing 4-3 at the Bell Centre.

Lane Hutson, Cole Caufield, and Noah Dobson scored, but Jordan Binnington stopped 23 of Montreal’s 26 shots. Jakub Dobes, used for a second straight night, made 14 saves on 18 shots.

Behind those numbers, the detail that stands out is the absence of Samuel Montembeault, scratched from the lineup because he was sick. Without that poorly timed virus, the plan in the locker room was clear, and the Quebec goaltender was supposed to be in net. However, they called up Kaapo Kahkonen as Dobes’ backup.

Martin St-Louis confirms his plan with Samuel Montembeault

After the game, Martin St-Louis explained that he had planned to start Montembeault against the Blues if he had not been sick.

“The Canadiens’ plan was to have Montembeault in goal tonight.

Jakub Dobes learned at 10 a.m. this morning that he would be starting.”

– Anthony Martineau

It’s a major revelation because it confirms that, in the coach’s mind, Samuel remains the Canadiens’ number one goaltender. Even while sick on a Sunday night in December, he is still St-Louis’ first choice when it comes time to face a tough opponent. The message becomes clearer when you look at Montembeault’s profile.

Following the loss to the Blues, the Canadiens sent goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen back to Laval, a move that clearly signals what’s next in their crease.

Sunday’s revelation therefore goes beyond a simple medical update. It sends Montembeault the message that he remains the trusted man in the Canadiens’ net. For fans, after a 4-3 loss, it is at least a clear sign of what comes next in goal.