McKenna Match of the Day: January 28 – Anton Forsberg vs. Samuel Montembeault

Former NHL goaltender Mike McKenna gives his Daily face-to-face Start of the goalkeeper game of the day for Saturday. January 28, 2023:

Why I love this game:

The mayhem factor of watching a pair of underrated goalies play on bad teams. And it’s the Senators versus the Canadiens – who doesn’t love this game?

To monitor :

Montembeault has really made progress this year in goal for the Canadiens, to the point that he should be considered a long-term solution. I’m not saying he’s the next Carey Price, but his upward trajectory — on a defensively challenged team — is remarkable. And with a cap of $1 million hit in the 2023-24 season, he’s a value.

Montembeault played as well as his veteran goalie partner, Jake Allen, and gave head coach Martin St. Louis a formidable tandem. His .910 save percentage is above the NHL league average. But his moneypuck.com goals recorded above the average rating are turning heads: Montembeault ranks 9th among NHL goaltenders with a rating of +12.8. I like his sense of the game and his level of competition. And Montembeault’s structure continues to improve.

Forsberg has had a tough run lately, including a streak when he allowed 18 goals on 97 shots in four games in January. But for most of the current season, Forsberg has been largely reliable in net for the Senators. He ranks 16th in goals saved above expectations despite a .903 save percentage.

Forsberg is an excellent skater and a natural puck blocker. But confidence and consistency were the areas of his game that needed to be addressed. I think it came last for him last year for the Sens. At some point, I’d like to see what Forsberg could do behind a solid team. He’s been stuck above his weight on bad clubs for a while now.

What fantasy owners should do:

Even though I like both goalies, this game is ripe for a high score. I wouldn’t start Montembeault or Forsberg if your fantasy team has a different option.

Conclusion for Anton Forsberg:

He was outstanding last night against the Maple Leafs when he stopped 31 of 33 shots and took the win. Tonight, he plays back-to-back games for the Sens. He will have to manage his energy.

Conclusion for Samuel Montembeault:

With Ottawa so good in the running and having deceptive forwards, he’ll have to be as patient as possible.