Canadiens Assess Montembeault Injury in Montreal

Montreal Canadiens goaltender Samuel Montembeault will miss 10 to 14 days after suffering a lower-body injury during practice in Brossard, with the team expecting a shorter absence than initially feared, according to NHL.com. The 29-year-old was set to start against the Nashville Predators before the injury occurred.

NHL.com reported that medical evaluations showed Montembeault would not require an extended recovery period. Coach Martin St-Louis said the injury was disappointing after the goaltender's strong training camp performance.

"You saw him get injured at the same time as me on Wednesday at practice. You know he was supposed to play Thursday against the Predators. It is disappointing when you think about the path he has taken since the end of last season.

He handled this situation well. I tip my hat to him. He had a good camp.

I thought he really looked like himself as a goaltender and I was excited to see him play. We were really happy for him. It is disappointing to see him get injured.

But the injury is not that serious. That is encouraging." said Martin St-Louis, coach.

The Canadiens turned to other goaltending options while Montembeault recovers. NHL.com reported Jakub Dobes received the first three starts of the season, while another report from danslescoulisses.com said Jacob Fowler was selected to start against the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday at the Bell Centre.

Defenseman Alexandre Carrier also addressed Montembeault's situation after an optional practice at the CN Sports Complex in Brossard. He praised the goaltender's work during camp and practices.

"The timing is really unfortunate for Sam. I thought he had an excellent camp. Even in practices, he is not easy to beat. I think I still have not scored against him in practice." said Alexandre Carrier, defenseman.

Montembeault's absence comes as the Canadiens manage early-season lineup decisions. Danslescoulisses.com reported that Fowler received another start after Dobes struggled in his most recent appearances following a strong opening game in Toronto.

Forward Oliver Kapanen also returned to skating during an optional practice after missing two days with the group, according to NHL.com. The Canadiens said he remains evaluated daily and he has missed the team's first four games.

Defenseman Mike Matheson discussed his frustration after Montreal's 5-2 loss to the Predators, a game where his late penalty led to Ryan O'Reilly's winning goal. He acknowledged responsibility for the infraction.

"I did not feel good. I deserved that penalty, I tripped him (Steven Stamkos)." said Mike Matheson, defenseman.

Matheson added that the team has been working hard despite the difficult result. His comments followed the Canadiens' effort to recover from the defeat while adapting to changes in goal.

"It is not easy. Everyone is working hard to do the right things and to win. When you invest so much emotion and energy, but things do not go the way you want, it is frustrating. I still have to keep things in perspective." said Mike Matheson, defenseman.