MONTREAL — Sam Montembeault found out last Sunday he’d don the red and white as one of Canada’s goalies at the NHL 4 Nations Face-Off tournament in February.
The Montreal Canadiens netminder has only justified that selection since.
Montembeault stopped 29 shots and shut out the Nashville Predators in Montreal’s 3-0 win on Thursday, a day after Canada’s team was officially announced. Two days earlier, he made 30 saves in a 2-1 victory over the New York Islanders.
“Couldn’t be better,” he said after Thursday’s game. “To come back and have those two good games right away … it’s still two months away, so I just want to focus one game at a time, but those last two games are really good.”
Patrik Laine scored for the second time in as many games as a Canadien. On the shelf with a knee injury to start the season, the Finnish winger watched from the press box as Montembeault backstopped the Canadiens.
In two games sharing the ice, Laine’s been impressed.
“He’s the back behind it all, he’s keeping us together, he’s kept us in the game so many times. Just unbelievable,” Laine said. “That’s why they picked him for Team Canada, for that reason. He shows up in big moments.
The Canadiens killed all five Nashville power plays, including a 36-second 5-on-3 in the third.
Montembeault also stopped four shots on a penalty kill midway through the second period as the Predators began building momentum.
“Your best penalty killer is your goalie. Tonight I think we were able to keep a separation because of our penalty kill, and especially our goalie,” Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis said. “The penalty kill is a big positive for us since the beginning of the year, and it’s been consistent … in general it’s something we can always count on and it always starts with the goalie.
“Sam played an excellent game.”
Montembeault has a .906 save percentage and a 2.82 goal-against average despite playing for a Montreal (10-13-3) team that ranks 30th in the NHL.
Three years ago, the Canadiens claimed Montembeault off waivers from Florida, where he had limited success during brief NHL stints over two seasons.
Now the 28-year-old from Becancour, Que., will join Jordan Binnington of the St. Louis Blues and Vegas netminder Adin Hill in Canada’s crease for the Feb. 12-20 best-on-best tournament in Montreal and Boston.
“When I first got out there (Florida), some people were saying I was an AHL goalie at best,” Montembeault said. “I hope after three or four years that I changed their mind, and just want to keep going and get better.”
Montembeault has experienced some tough outings this season. He was pulled twice in consecutive weeks in October with 7-2 and 8-2 losses to the New York Rangers and Seattle Kraken, but has managed to bounce back.
Staying even-keeled, he said, is a key to his success.
“Even when I had bad games, the next day you’ve just got to put it behind (you) and go back to work,” he said.
