The Montreal Canadiens are set to take the ice against the New York Islanders on Thursday in their first game since early February, before the NHL took a break due to the Olympics. Unlike last season, the Canadiens are in a great position to get back to the playoffs, and the focus is not chasing a spot but holding onto the spot they have.<\/p>\n
It is a pressure-filled next two weeks, though, as the trade deadline is a week from Friday and general manager Kent Hughes could look to make moves to help their playoff chances. The Canadiens have only three games before the trade deadline, and players have limited opportunities to prove they should keep the spot they have in the lineup.<\/p>\n
Three players in particular are fighting for their spot or needing to show the team they can be a key contributor down the stretch and into the playoffs.<\/p>\n
3 Montreal Canadiens under the most pressure coming out of the Olympic breakSamuel Montembeault<\/p>\n
The player who is probably under the most pressure coming out of the Olympic break is Samuel Montembeault. The Canadiens’ goalie was expected to be the starter entering the season, but stumbled through the first part of the season with a 10-8-2 record, a save percentage of only .875, and a goals against average of 3.34 (both career-worst marks).<\/p>\n
The Canadiens confirmed that Montembeault will get the start<\/a> against the New York Islanders, which is a little surprising, as Jakub Dobes has been the better goalie over the past few weeks leading into the Olympic break. This feels very much like Montembeault’s last chance to prove he can be the starter and has to replicate the performance he had in his last start when he stopped 36 of 37 shots against the Winnipeg Jets on February 4th.<\/p>\n