Canadiens send goalie Sam Montembeault to AHL Laval for conditioning
Advertisement
Read this article for free:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
To continue reading, please subscribe:
Monthly Digital Subscription
$0 for the first 4 weeks*
- Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
- Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
- Access News Break, our award-winning app
- Play interactive puzzles
*No charge for 4 weeks then price increases to the regular rate of $19.95 plus GST every four weeks. Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.
Monthly Digital Subscription
$4.99/week*
- Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
- Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
- Access News Break, our award-winning app
- Play interactive puzzles
*Billed as $19.95 plus GST every four weeks. Cancel any time.
To continue reading, please subscribe:
Add Free Press access to your Brandon Sun subscription for only an additional
$1 for the first 4 weeks*
*Your next subscription payment will increase by $1.00 and you will be charged $16.99 plus GST for four weeks. After four weeks, your payment will increase to $23.99 plus GST every four weeks.
Read unlimited articles for free today:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
MONTREAL – The Montreal Canadiens sent Sam Montembeault, who began the season as the team’s No. 1 goalie, to the American Hockey League’s Laval Rocket on a conditioning assignment Tuesday.
The Rocket said he would join the team in Cleveland and practise Wednesday ahead of Thursday’s game against the Monsters.
Per the NHL-NHLPA collective bargaining agreement, Montembeault, who’s on a one-way contract, would have had to agree to the conditioning loan, which cannot extend past 14 days.
Montembeault has struggled to a 5-6-1 record with a 3.65 goals-against average and .857 save percentage after becoming a solid starter over the past two seasons and featuring on Canada’s 4 Nations Face-Off roster last February.
The 29-year-old from Becancour, Que., last started on Dec. 2 in a 5-2 loss to the Ottawa Senators, giving up five goals on 29 shots in an ugly defensive performance for the Canadiens.
He then entered in relief for Jakub Dobes in a 6-1 defeat to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Dec. 9, allowing three goals on 13 shots.
The poor showing from both goalies this season — and that night — prompted the call-up of goalie prospect Jacob Fowler from Laval.
Fowler was set to make his third career start, and first in Montreal, Tuesday night against the Philadelphia Flyers.
The 21-year-old American made 36 saves in his debut, helping the Canadiens win 4-2 over the Pittsburgh Penguins last Thursday. He then lost his first game Saturday as Montreal squandered a 3-0 lead in a 5-4 overtime defeat to the New York Rangers.
Dobes made 27 saves in Montreal’s 4-1 win over the Edmonton Oilers on Sunday.
In other news, the Canadiens announced defenceman Mike Matheson was day-to-day with an upper-body injury and would miss Tuesday’s game.
The 31-year-old from Pointe-Claire, Que., has four goals and 12 assists in 32 games this season. He also leads the Canadiens with an average ice time of 24 minutes 54 seconds.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 16, 2025.