Has Al Montoya lost his confidence?
The Montreal Canadiens' backup goaltender is winless since his team's 10-0 blowout loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Nov. 4, in which coach Michel Therrien left Montoya in net for all 10 goals against.
Those same Blue Jackets bested Montoya again Friday, although by a more modest 2-1 margin.
The Blue Jackets are hot, winners of 12 straight, while the Canadiens have grabbed just two wins in their last five outings.
In between the two matches versus Columbus, Montoya has dropped decisions to the Chicago Blackhawks, Carolina Hurricanes, and St. Louis Blues.
| Date Range | Starts | Record | GAA | SV% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Before Nov. 4 | 4 | 3-0-1 | 1.47 | .955 |
| After Nov. 4 | 4 | 0-3-1 | 2.75 | .898 |
Of the 47 goalies with as many starts as Montoya this season, only three have posted a worse showing than his post-Columbus .898 percentage.
For a team that relies on strong goaltending, and a healthy and rested Carey Price, a trustworthy backup is critical, and the state of Montoya's game is troubling.
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