Canadiens call up Cayden Primeau ahead of Game 4 with Samuel Montembeault a game-time decision
Some drama leading up to a pivotal Stanley Cup Playoff game.
On Sunday, the Montreal Canadiens called up goaltender Cayden Primeau from their American Hockey League affiliate, the Laval Rocket. It comes as Samuel Montembault is considered a game-time decision for Game 4 of the team’s first-round series against the Washington Capitals.
With #allcaps Logan Thompson in net at morning skate, #GoHabsGo Sam Montembeault is officially a game-time decision and not yet ruled out.
If Montembeault can’t go, expect Cayden Primeau – who was just recalled – to back up Jakub Dobes.
Montembault was knocked out of the wild third game of the Metropolitan Division Semifinals. The Habs netminder appeared to have tweaked something in his left leg in the second period of the contest, being replaced by rookie netminder Jakub Dobes. He exited the game a little past the halfway mark of the middle stanza, having given up two goals on 13 shots.
Montembault wasn’t the only masked man who had to leave prematurely on Friday night. Capitals goaltender Logan Thompson was inadvertently bowled over by teammate Dylan Strome as Juraj Slafkovsky scored late in the second and had to be helped off the ice.
The Canadiens went on to win 6-3, cutting the Capitals’ series lead to 2-1.
Thompson was seen at morning skate on Sunday and took shots in the starter’s net. It isn’t known if the right-handed catching goaltender will start in Game 4.
If Montembault isn’t good to go, that means Dobes will be making his first NHL start in the playoffs. The Czech backstop was credited with the victory after making seven saves on eight shots in a little over 28 minutes of action.
Dobes was a pleasant surprise in Montreal this season, taking over the backup role in December after winning the first five starts of his NHL career. The 23-year-old went 7-4-3 in 16 appearances, posting a 2.74 goals-against average and a .909 save percentage with one shutout.
Primeau hasn’t played in the NHL since Dec. 12. He’s been having a terrific year in Laval, going 21-2-2 in 26 games, with a 1.96 GAA, a .927 SV% and two shutouts. The 25-year-old went 2-3-1 in seven starts with the Habs this season, registering a 4.70 GAA and a .836 SV%.
Game 4 between the Habs and Caps is set for 6:30 p.m. ET on Sunday.