Canadiens send goalie Sam Montembeault to AHL Laval for conditioning

Utah Mammoth's Logan Cooley (92) moves in on Montreal Canadiens goaltender Sam Montembeault during second period NHL hockey action in Montreal, Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press)

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.

The Canadian Press