Samuel Montembeault gave Martin St-Louis and the Canadiens a scare after taking a Noah Dobson shot high during practice in Brossard.
The sequence immediately brought practice to a halt. Dobson's shot caught Montembeault around the head area, leaving the Canadiens goaltender visibly shaken inside his crease.
Dobson didn't hesitate after seeing what happened. He skated straight toward Montembeault to check on him and apologize for the accidental contact.
Montembeault stayed down briefly and needed a few moments to collect himself. The reaction made the sequence uncomfortable to watch, especially this close to the start of the season.
The encouraging part came moments later. Montembeault remained on the ice, returned to his position and resumed taking shots rather than leaving the session.
-
That response eased some of the immediate concern, though any impact around a goaltender's head is going to draw attention from the coaching staff.
Noah Dobson immediately checks on Montembeault
The clip also showed Dobson's reaction clearly. The Canadiens defenceman stopped what he was doing and went directly toward his teammate before the drill continued.
There was no suggestion that the shot was intentional. It was an unfortunate practice sequence involving a heavy shot and a goalie who had little time to protect himself.
For Martin St-Louis, the timing is what makes the moment worth watching. Montreal is preparing for the opening stretch of its schedule, and Montembeault carries an important role in the crease.
The Canadiens also have little reason to take chances during preparation. Keeping their goaltending situation stable matters as the club moves from training camp work toward meaningful games.
Montembeault continuing the session was the best immediate sign available from Brossard. No further concern was raised publicly following the incident.
Still, the sequence was a reminder of how quickly a routine drill can change. One shot from the blue line turned a normal practice into a tense few moments around Montreal's crease.
Dobson's immediate concern for his teammate stood out, while Montembeault's return to action allowed the Canadiens to move forward with their preparation.
Should the Canadiens be extra cautious with Samuel Montembeault after this scare?
Also read on Markerzone.com:
Auston Matthews goes public with odd goodbye message to Matthew Knies and Steven Lorentz
