There is only one opportunity left for Samuel Montembeault to face Marc-André Fleury. It will not be at the Xcel Energy Center on Thursday evening, but on January 30 at the Bell Center.
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Because Wild head coach John Hynes has decided to give his number one, Filip Gustavsson, the mandate to face the penultimate team in the league. The Sorelois only played in four matches this season, winning three times.
If Fleury were to stay in Minnesota to end his career at the end of this campaign, he would only have one opportunity left to play against the Canadian, at the end of January at the Bell Center, and to enjoy a 28th victory.
Fleury will hang up his pads after 22 seasons in the NHL. The 39-year-old masked man with three Stanley Cups also wants to be one of the last three Quebec Mohicans to keep goals in the NHL.
Authenticity
“It’s crazy how much he influenced me,” Montembeault said before leaving for Minnesota about the man who has become one of the most impactful goaltenders in the league in several respects. Particularly in the column of matches played (1029) and victories (564), but also with his unique style.
“It’s fun to see that it’s Quebecers who occupy these places. Quebec is a hotbed of goalkeepers. When I was young, I grew up watching Fleury, Luongo and company.
“He’s really a model and a very professional guy,” added the Habs goalie. It’s nice to see his passion after all these seasons. We can see that he is enthusiastic by still teasing his teammates and watching his videos. He’s still very athletic and a competitor.”
Among his successes, Montembeault would like to be able to say that he has already beaten Fleury in a confrontation on an NHL ice rink. In October 2023 in Montreal, he was beaten 5 to 2. He will therefore circle the date of January 30 on his calendar.
Alone with Levi?
If no goalkeeper from La Belle Province were to break through the elite of professional hockey, everything indicates that Montembeault will be, from next season, one of the last two Quebec Mohicans in his position along with Devon Levi, with the Buffalo Sabers .
According to him, this endangered species can be explained by the globalization of his profession.
“Sport has become international. There are excellent goalkeepers arriving from all over the world, from Russia and elsewhere. The pool is large. But we can count on good Quebecers who are coming,” he insisted.
Montembeault, however, tipped his hat a little when talking about the many Quebec hopes in the American League. They are rarer. Kevin Mandolese and Olivier Rodrigue are in the top 20 of the best goalkeepers on the circuit while Louis Domingue is at 58e rank since the start of the season.
