Montreal Canadiens goalie Samuel Montembeault suffered an injury during practice, raising concerns for the team’s defense.
Montembeault, who usually serves as a backup, appeared to hurt his right leg or groin towards the end of practice at CN Sports Complex. He had to leave early, and emergency goalie Nicolas Ruccia stepped in.
Coach Martin St. Louis did not provide details on Montembeault’s condition, stating that he was still being evaluated.
The 29-year-old goalie did not play in the team’s first three games of the season, while Jakub Dobes stood in with a mixed record. Montembeault was scheduled to start against the Nashville Predators on Thursday, but his availability is now uncertain.
The Canadiens have struggled defensively, ranking 30th in the NHL by allowing an average of 4.67 goals per game before the incident.
Despite Dobes’ efforts, the team faced setbacks in recent games, conceding multiple goals in tough losses. St. Louis emphasized the need for defensive improvement but acknowledged the team’s ongoing efforts.
Defenseman Alexandre Carrier expressed optimism about the team’s defensive progress, highlighting adjustments made during training camp but noted that there is still room for improvement.
