The Montreal Canadiens have made a significant change in their coaching staff by parting ways with goalie coach Eric Raymond, as confirmed by the team’s president of hockey operations, Jeff Gorton, in an announcement on Wednesday.
Raymond, who had been in the position since the start of the 2021-22 season, has been replaced by Marco Marciano, previously the goalie coach for the American Hockey League’s Laval Rocket. Marciano will serve as the interim goalie coach for the Canadiens until the end of the current season.
This decision comes amidst a challenging season for Montreal’s goaltenders. Starting goalie Sam Montembeault, a participant in Canada’s 4 Nations Face-Off last year, has struggled with a .868 save percentage and a 3.46 goals-against average, a decline from his previous season’s .902 save percentage and 2.80 GAA. Montembeault notably worked on his game with Marciano during a conditioning loan period with the Rocket in December.
Meanwhile, rookie goaltender Jakub Dobes, who was named the NHL’s third star of the month in October, has seen his performance drop to a .890 save percentage and 2.96 GAA.
The goaltending challenges faced by the team led to the early recall of 21-year-old Jacob Fowler from Laval, ahead of schedule in his development. In his 10 NHL starts, Fowler achieved a .902 save percentage and a 2.62 GAA before being returned to the Rocket on January 16, marking the end of a three-goalie rotation for the Canadiens.
Despite the struggles in the net, Montreal maintains the Eastern Conference’s first wild-card position with a record of 29-17-7, even though the team ranks 25th in the league in terms of save percentage this season, standing at .879.
