Jakub Dobes’ surge forces Martin St-Louis to make a difficult decision on Samuel Montembeault’s role

Samuel Montembeault’s situation is seriously weakening with the rapid rise of Jakub Dobes.

The young Czech goaltender is in the process of officially taking over the Canadiens’ net as of this morning.

Let’s be honest, Dobes’ consistency is forcing Martin St-Louis’ hand. Montembeault is seeing his starting role erode after a series of shaky performances.

Dobes’ 19-5-4 record is impossible for management to ignore. The netminder has not suffered a regulation loss since December 9.

Honestly, Monty is no longer providing the same stability as his young backup these days. This dynamic places the Quebec-born goalie in a precarious position moving forward.

It’s simple: the hierarchy is shifting before our eyes at the Bell Centre. Samuel Montembeault will need to respond quickly if he does not want to finish the season at the end of the bench.

Dobes settles into the No. 1 role

Nick Suzuki continues to lead the offensive charge with an impressive 68 points. The captain is stabilizing the team while the battle rages in goal.

Cole Caufield follows with 35 goals, proving that the Canadiens’ scoring punch is very real. The quick transition game initiated by young defensemen like Jayden Struble is making life easier for the goaltenders.

Zachary Bolduc is also integrating better and better, showing that the team’s depth is improving in Montreal. The towering Kirby Dach is bringing an essential physical dimension in the offensive zone as well.

The Canadiens begin an important West Coast trip against the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday. It will be an opportunity to see whether Martin St-Louis confirms Dobes as his trusted No. 1.