Montembeault's Injury Delays Comeback Efforts

Samuel Montembeault's efforts to reclaim his position as the starting goalie for the Montreal Canadiens have been delayed due to a non-contact injury sustained during practice on Wednesday. The injury, which left him limping off the ice, was confirmed by the team on Friday.

Montembeault was on the verge of making his first start in 216 days, having worked diligently to rebuild his confidence after a challenging previous season. The 29-year-old is now required to undergo an MRI and begin another rehabilitation process, although it is expected to be shorter than previous recoveries.

His teammate Cole Caufield expressed concern for Montembeault, noting the unexpected nature of the injury. Prior to this setback, Montembeault had shown promise during training camp and was poised to provide veteran support behind starter Jakub Dobes. His performance in the previous season had positioned him well for a potential trade before the deadline, but this injury has put those plans on hold.