In the heart of Montreal, tension is mounting as the Canadiens prepare for a pivotal clash against the Buffalo Sabres on Monday night. The spotlight is burning hotter than ever—not just on the ice, but in the minds of fans and decision-makers alike. Head coach Martin St-Louis stands at a crossroads, facing a goalie dilemma that could shape the team’s trajectory for weeks to come. With Samuel Montembeault and Jakub Dobes both vying for the coveted starting spot, every move, every save, and every whisper from the locker room is fueling speculation and debate.

But beneath the surface, there’s far more at stake than a simple lineup choice. After a tough loss to the New York Rangers and a stunning performance from Dobes against Nashville, the pressure on St-Louis has reached a fever pitch. Fans are voicing strong opinions, the players are feeling the heat, and the city is holding its breath. What led to this dramatic decision? Why are so many convinced that a young goalie holds the key to victory? And what unexpected twists could emerge as puck drop approaches? The answers are not as clear-cut as they seem—and the story behind Montreal’s goalie conundrum is one you won’t want to miss.

Canadiens coach Martin St-Louis, Goalies Samuel Montembeault and Jakub Dobes

Photo credit: All Habs / NHL

The Montreal Canadiens and especially Martin St-Louis have an important decision to make before facing the Buffalo Sabres on Monday night.

Indeed, after the loss against the New York Rangers on Saturday night, a very important question arises. Who will be in goal between Samuel Montembeault and Jakub Dobes?

The fans, for their part, seem to have already made up their minds. According to a poll published by Anthony Martineau, more than 80% of respondents want Martin St-Louis to give the net to the young Dobes against Buffalo.

“Who are you giving the match to tomorrow against Buffalo? Why?”

– Anthony Martineau

I must admit that this figure doesn’t really surprise me when you remember his last two games.

Dobes was very impressive against the Nashville Predators on Thursday night, notably making a spectacular save on Filip Forsberg in overtime before Cole Caufield scored the winning goal.

The Jakub Dobes save & the Cole Caufield goal in OT last night from the Bell Centre stands.

Nick Suzuki with a sneaky moving screen on Juuse Saros right before the shot.

– Habs On Reddit

I think that, even though he only needed 17 saves, he was decisive at key moments.

Jakub Dobes earns important points with Martin St-Louis

After this victory, Dobes showed a lot of maturity by telling NHL.com:

“In the third, I didn’t make that save that maybe could have allowed us to win before overtime. I owed the guys one.”

– Jakub Dobes

Montembeault, for his part, had a tougher night on Saturday, allowing four goals on 18 shots against the Rangers.

In his post-game interview, he took the blame for the loss and said ‘he has to do better’.

In my opinion, I think Martin St-Louis should bet on the hot hand. Dobes is playing well. I’d like to see him in net again.