Samuel Montembeault went down on an awkward-looking play tonight, and the Canadiens are holding their breath on their goalie.
There was no contact on the play, which makes it harder to read. Dr. Harjas Grewal pointed out that it's hard to sprain a knee without some kind of contact in hockey.
Goalies can sprain knees sprawling into awkward positions to make saves, Grewal noted, but that wasn't the case here.
His guess pointed elsewhere. "Wonder if he lost an edge and pulled a groin/hammy?"
Nothing is confirmed. Until Montreal provides an update, it's an injury without a diagnosis.
The 29-year-old is coming off a rough season, with an .872 save percentage and a 3.43 GAA in 25 games.
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Jakub Dobes and Martin St-Louis face a sudden crease question
The year before, Montembeault carried the load, playing 62 games and winning 31. That's the version Montreal hoped to see again.
If he misses time, Jakub Dobes becomes the man. The 25-year-old sits at .857 through three games this season.
Montreal came into the night 1-1-1 after a 6-4 home loss to Carolina, a game that already left the Bell Centre fuming over a missed call on Chris Kreider.
Kent Hughes needs a contingency plan now. A struggling backup and an injured starter is not a combination a team chasing the playoffs can ride for long.
It's like setting out on a long road trip with the spare tire already on the car.
Nashville is the opponent tonight, and the schedule doesn't slow down after this.
The hope is a minor strain and a quick return. If it's anything more, Montreal's season gets a lot more complicated in a hurry.
Should the Canadiens add a goalie if Samuel Montembeault misses time?
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