(Anaheim) Once the last siren was heard, Wednesday evening in Anaheim, Samuel Montembeault began to display his biggest smile, that of big evenings.
For what ? For several reasons, including this: “I’ve seen Carey do them quite often, ones like that…”
Things like that refer to a huge glove save, in particular the one made midway through the third period against Frank Vatrano. An anthology piece, which we will see again and again over the coming days on all screens.
That, and several other little miracles like that, are the main reason for this victory for the Canadian, Wednesday night in Anaheim, by a score of 4-3 against the Ducks.
“He came to talk to me after that,” Montembeault added about Vatrano. I know him, I played with him in Florida with the Panthers… but hey, he got me then with a good throw! »
This third Ducks goal won’t have hurt in the end, but it could have gone badly. Once again, the Canadian allowed an average club (the Canadian is one too, no doubt, but we’re getting lost) to hang on and twice overcome two-goal deficits.
But there was Montembeault, again, to say no very often.
“He was incredible,” Alex Newhook replied without hesitation. He’s pulled off perhaps two of the best saves of the year already! For us, it’s nice to see that. A goalkeeper who makes saves like that inspires the rest of the group, everyone is standing on the bench when it happens. It’s saves like that that give energy to a team. »
As life is sometimes made up of beautiful coincidences, the Canadiens goaltender offered this superb spectacle—30 saves in all, often very difficult ones—while eight NHL clubs had sent scouts on site. That includes the Edmonton Oilers, who need a goalie like a fish needs water.
This is not the time to start with rumors and throw names into the air, which is far too easy to do, but casually, there are clubs on the verge of desperation who will start to interest in the Canadian and his three goalkeepers.
“It’s not an easy situation for them, but I think all three of them are doing a really good job,” noted defenseman Mike Matheson. They are there for us when we need them, and Samuel certainly did that for us again (Wednesday evening). It wasn’t a perfect game at all on our part, but it’s good to get this victory. It will help us with confidence. »
The bit of confidence will be important for the rest of this trip to California—there are still stops in San Jose and Los Angeles—because the Canadian would benefit from a few victories to keep the dream of a race for a place in the playoffs, if such a scenario is still possible.
Such goalkeeper performances are magnificent, but it should not become a habit to rely on miracles in front of the net.
After all, that’s what this club has been doing for a long time. From Carey Price’s mitt.
“It was a good match on my part, I made some good saves,” added Montembeault modestly at the end of the evening. But the guys went for goals at the right times. I’d say it feels good to start this journey off on the right foot…”
We presume that Jayden Struble will remember this November 22, 2023 in Anaheim for a long time, because it is here that he played his first NHL game. The 22-year-old defenseman, a second-round pick by the Canadiens in the 2019 draft, spent the last four seasons with Northeastern University, before landing with the Rocket in Laval and finally, before being recalled by the Canadiens more early this week, to replace Jordan Harris in the lineup. He was able to take part in this game while his parents and brothers were in the stands, just to watch him play. “You get on the ice and you see guys you were watching on TV, so it’s a little intimidating,” noted the young defenseman at the end of the evening. But once you’re in the game, it’s fine. »
Unlike Struble, Quebec defenseman Tristan Luneau was hardly making his first NHL game this Wednesday evening in Anaheim. In fact, the 19-year-old was playing his third game in the league, but it was especially his first against the Canadiens, the club of his childhood. We can believe that Luneau will remember that evening too; he took advantage of the moment to collect his first point in the NHL, an assist on Mason McTavish’s goal, during the second period of play. It remains to be seen if the Ducks will keep him here or return him later to his club junior, in Gatineau.
We wonder if Jesse Ylonen and Michael Pezzetta liked the show during third period Wednesday night, because they arguably had the best seats in the place. In fact, these two attackers spent the last period drying out on the bench, without making a single appearance on the ice. Pezzetta finished the game with just 6:49 of playing time, and Ylonen with just 7:23 of playing time.
